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Hispanic Heritage Month 2009:
Sept.
15 – Oct. 15
In September 1968, Congress authorized
President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, which
was observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The
observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct.
15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of those who trace their
roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America,
South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for
the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin
American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and
Sept. 18, respectively.
Population
46.9 million
The
estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2008, making
people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority.
Hispanics constituted 15 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition,
there are approximately 4 million residents of Puerto Rico.
Source: Population
estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>
and
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013049.html>
More than 1
. . . of every two people
added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, was
Hispanic. There were 1.5 million Hispanics added to the population during the
period.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>
3.2%
Percentage increase in
the Hispanic population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, making
Hispanics the fastest-growing minority group.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>
132.8 million
The
projected Hispanic population of the United States on July 1, 2050. According
to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 30 percent of the nation’s
population by that date.
Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html>
22.4 million
The
nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 Census — less than half the
current total.
Source: The Hispanic Population: 2000 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-3.pdf>
2nd
Ranking of the size of
the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2008. Only Mexico (110 million)
had a larger Hispanic population than the United States (46.9 million).
Source:
International Data Base <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbsum.html>
and population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>
64%
The percentage of
Hispanic-origin people in the United States who were of Mexican background in
2007. Another 9 percent were of Puerto Rican background, with 3.5 percent
Cuban, 3.1 percent Salvadoran and 2.7 percent Dominican. The remainder were of
some other Central American, South American or other Hispanic or Latino origin.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
About 45 percent of the nation’s Dominicans
lived in New York City in 2007 and about half of the nation’s Cubans in
Miami-Dade County, Fla.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
25%
Percentage of children
younger than 5 who were Hispanic in 2008. All in all, Hispanics comprised 22
percent of children younger than 18.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>
27.7 years
Median age of the
Hispanic population in 2008. This compared with 36.8 years for the population
as a whole.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>
107
Number of Hispanic males
in 2008 per every 100 Hispanic females. This was in sharp contrast to the
overall population, which had 97 males per every 100 females.
Source:
Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>
States
and Counties
48%
The percentage of the
Hispanic-origin population that lived in California or Texas in 2008.
California was home to 13.5 million Hispanics, and Texas was home to 8.9
million.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
16
The number of states with
at least a half-million Hispanic residents — Arizona, California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Source:
Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
45%
The percentage of New
Mexico’s population that was Hispanic in 2008, the highest of any state.
Hispanics also made up at least one fifth of the population in California and
Texas, at 37 percent each, Arizona (30 percent), Nevada (26 percent), Florida
(21 percent) and Colorado (20 percent). New Mexico had 891,000 Hispanics.
Source:
Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
The Carolinas
The
states with the highest percentage increases in Hispanic population between
July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008. South Carolina’s increase was 7.7 percent and
North Carolina’s was 7.4 percent.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
4.7 million
The Hispanic population
of Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2008 — the largest of any county in the
nation. Los Angeles County also had the biggest numerical increase in the
Hispanic population (67,000) since July 2007.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
97%
Proportion of the
population of Starr County, Texas, that was Hispanic as of 2008, which led the
nation. All of the top 10 counties in this category were in Texas.
Source:
Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
48
Number of the nation’s
3,142 counties that are majority-Hispanic.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
15%
Percent increase in the
Hispanic population in Luzerne County, Pa., from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008.
Among all counties with 2007 Hispanic populations of at least 10,000, Luzerne
topped the nation in this category. Luzerne’s county seat is Wilkes-Barre.
Source:
Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
313,000
The increase in
California’s Hispanic population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, which
led all states. Texas (305,000) and Florida (111,000) also recorded large increases.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
20
Number of states in which
Hispanics are the largest minority group. These states are Arizona, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas,
Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
Businesses
Source for statements in this section: Hispanic-owned
Firms: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/csd/sbo/hispanic2002.htm>
1.6 million
The number of
Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.
Nearly 43 percent of Hispanic-owned firms operated
in construction; administrative and support, and waste management and
remediation services; and other services, such as personal services, and repair
and maintenance. Retail and wholesale trade accounted for nearly 36 percent of
Hispanic-owned business revenue.
Counties with the highest number of Hispanic-owned
firms were Los Angeles County (188,422); Miami-Dade County (163,187); and
Harris County, Texas (61,934).
Triple
The rate of growth of
Hispanic-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002 (31 percent) compared with the
national average (10 percent) for all businesses.
$222 billion
Revenue
generated by Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002, up 19 percent from 1997.
44.6%
. . . of all
Hispanic-owned firms were owned by people of Mexican origin (Mexican,
Mexican-American or Chicano).
29,168
Number of Hispanic-owned
firms with receipts of $1 million or more.
Families
and Children
10.4 million
The
number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2008. Of these
households, 62 percent included children younger than 18.
Source: Families and
Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>
66%
The percentage of
Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple.
Source: Families
and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>
43%
The percentage of
Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple with children younger
than 18.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>
70%
Percentage of Hispanic
children living with two parents.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>
Spanish
Language
35 million
The number of U.S.
residents 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2007. Those who hablan
español constituted 12 percent of U.S. residents. More than half of these
Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”
Source: 2007 American Community
Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
4
Number of states where at
least one-in-five residents spoke Spanish at home in 2007 — Arizona,
California, New Mexico and Texas.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/012634.html>
78%
Percentage of Hispanics 5
and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community
Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
Income,
Poverty and Health Insurance
$37,913
The median income of
Hispanic households in 2008, down 5.6 percent from the previous year after
adjusting for inflation.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance
Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/014227.html>
23.2%
The poverty rate among
Hispanics in 2008, up from 21.5 percent in 2007.
Source: Income, Poverty,
and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/014227.html>
30.7%
The percentage of
Hispanics who lacked health insurance in 2008, down from 32.1 percent in 2007.
Source:
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/014227.html>
Education
53%
The percentage of
Hispanic 4-year-olds enrolled in nursery school in 2007, up from 43 percent in
1997 and 21 percent in 1987.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic
Characteristics of Students: October 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013391.html>
62%
The percentage of
Hispanics 25 and older who had at least a high school education in 2008.
Source:
Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>
13%
The percentage of the
Hispanic population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2008.
Source:
Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>
3.6 million
The number of Hispanics
18 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2008.
Source: Educational
Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>
1 million
Number of Hispanics 25
and older with advanced degrees in 2008 (e.g., master’s, professional,
doctorate).
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>
12%
Percentage of full-time
college students (both undergraduate and graduate students) in October 2007 who
were Hispanic, up from 10 percent in 2006.
Source: School Enrollment – Social
and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013391.html>
20%
Percentage of elementary
and high school students combined who were Hispanic.
Source: School Enrollment
– Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013391.html>
Names
4
The number of Hispanic
surnames ranked among the 15 most common in 2000. It was the first time that a
Hispanic surname reached the top 15 during a census. Garcia was the most
frequent Hispanic surname, occurring 858,289 times and placing eighth on the
list — up from 18th in 1990. Rodriguez (ninth), Martinez (11th) and Hernandez
(15th) were the next most common Hispanic surnames.
Source: Census 2000
Genealogy <http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/freqnames2k.html>
Jobs
67%
Percentage of Hispanics
16 and older who were in the civilian labor force in 2007.
Source: 2007
American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
18%
The percentage of
Hispanics 16 or older who worked in management, professional and related
occupations in 2007. The same percentage worked in production, transportation
and material moving occupations. Another 16 percent worked in construction,
extraction, maintenance and repair occupations. Approximately 24 percent of
Hispanics 16 or older worked in service occupations; 21 percent in sales and
office occupations; and 2 percent in farming, fishing and forestry occupations.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
79,400
Number of Hispanic chief
executives. In addition, 50,866 physicians and surgeons; 48,720 postsecondary
teachers; 38,532 lawyers; and 2,726 news analysts, reporters and correspondents
are Hispanic.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States:
2010, Table 603 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
Voting
9.7 million
The number of Hispanic
citizens who reported voting in the 2008 presidential election, about 2 million
more than voted in 2004. The percentage of Hispanic citizens voting — 50
percent — represented a statistical increase from 2004 (47 percent).
Source: Voting
and Registration in the Election of 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/013995.html>
Serving
our Country
1.1 million`
The number of Hispanic
veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
SOURCE: Census Bureau’s Facts for Features
series.
Editor’s note:
The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject
to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are
customarily released about two months before an observance in order to
accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be
directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone:
301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.
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