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Half of America's Population Growth Now Hispanic

Baby boom among '90s immigrants behind surge in Latino population

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 24, 2008 6:50 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A Hispanic baby boom accounts for more than half of America's population growth over the last decade, the Houston Chronicle reports. A survey found 50.5% of the growth in that period was among Hispanics, even though the group currently makes up just 15% of the population. The growth is due more to births than immigration, the Pew Hispanic Center report found.

"What's fueling the growth is the natural increase, the US-born babies, of the previous immigrants," a sociologist says. The demographic remains concentrated in the south and west, but the report found the Hispanic population is now rapidly expanding in parts of the northeast and northwest where there were very few Hispanic residents only a decade ago.

Perry Mayor Viivi Shirley, left, stands with Sonia Ruiz, owner of Ilusiones Salon de Belleza, outside Ruiz' salon in downtown Perry, Iowa, earlier this year.
Perry Mayor Viivi Shirley, left, stands with Sonia Ruiz, owner of Ilusiones Salon de Belleza, outside Ruiz' salon in downtown Perry, Iowa, earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Steve Pope)
Hispanic foods and flavors are becoming part of mainstream America. Once relegated to the international section at the local grocer, Latin-inspired food is now found throughout stores.
Hispanic foods and flavors are becoming part of mainstream America. Once relegated to the international section at the local grocer, Latin-inspired food is now found throughout stores.   (AP Photo/Larry Crowe)
A storefront window on Main Street indicates in Spanish that a new minisuper will open there to attract some of the growing Hispanic population in Marshalltown, Iowa.
A storefront window on Main Street indicates in Spanish that a new "minisuper" will open there to attract some of the growing Hispanic population in Marshalltown, Iowa.   (AP Photo/David Lienemann)
Hispanics have been a focal point of the election campaign as candidates try to tap into the fast-growing demographic.
Hispanics have been a focal point of the election campaign as candidates try to tap into the fast-growing demographic.   (Shutter Stock)
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Much of the Latino growth in this decade has taken place in small and mid-sized cities and in suburbs—many of which had relatively few Latino residents until the past decade or two. - Richard Fry, senior research associate at the Pew Center.

The reason for that natural increase is not because Latinos are having so many babies, it's because so many of the Latinos in Houston are of child-bearing age. - Stephen Klineberg, a sociologist at Rice University

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Hispanic population up 30% since 2000
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hispanic numbers soar in Oregon
Oregonian (Portland)

Baby boom could strain Texas services
Dallas Morning News

McCain flagging among Latino voters
New York Times

US

 
population • demographics • USA • Hispanic • Pew Hispanic Center • demographic trends

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