Hispanics a growing slice of American pie chart

By John Lantigua

From the Palm Beach Post

A new national survey shows that the Hispanic population in the U.S. rose 47 percent from 2000 to 2011 and that the rate of growth in Florida was even higher – 62 percent.

The Pew Research Hispanic Center in Washington, a respected demographic research institute, found that the Hispanic population in the U.S. during those 11 years swelled from 35.2 million to 51.9 million. The total U.S. population as of 2011 was 311.6 million, meaning that 16.7 percent of people living in the U.S. were Hispanic, compared to 12.5 percent in 2000.

And that percentage is expected to increase. Of all births in the U.S. in 2011, 23.1 percent were to Hispanic women.

The 2011 numbers are based on the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which surveyed 3 percent of the households in the U.S. and extrapolated total numbers from those interviews. The households were contacted during 2011 and the numbers were compiled over the past year. The 2000 numbers were based on the census from that year.

The center says its figures include undocumented persons. There are thought to be 11-12 million undocumented persons in the U.S., 80 percent of whom are Hispanic.

The growing numbers of Hispanics, especially the increase in Hispanic voters, is already affecting U.S. political life. In November Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney for the presidency, in part by winning the Hispanic vote by 71-26 percent.

Republicans’ hardline position against the legalization of the undocumented cost them many Hispanic votes. Since then GOP members of Congress have begun negotiating with Democrats on a comprehensive immigration reform overhaul, to improve relations with Hispanic voters.

By far the largest Hispanic community in the U.S. is persons of Mexican descent, with 33.5 million, or 64.5 percent of all Hispanics. Many persons of Mexican descent come from families that have lived in the U.S. for many generations. Two-thirds of all persons of Mexican descent in the U.S. were born here.

Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens from birth, number 4.9 million; Salvadorans, 1.95 million; Cubans, 1.88 million. Guatemalans, who have a large community in Palm Beach County, number 1.22 million nationwide.

Not only did the total number of Hispanics and their percentage of the total U.S. population increase, but the percentage of Hispanics in the U.S. who are U.S.-born increased from 59.9 percent to 63.8 percent. Hispanics have the lowest median age of any population group, 27, compared to 33 for African-Americans; 36 for Asians; and 42 for whites.

Florida is home to the third-highest total of Hispanics: 4.35 million, or 22.8 percent of total state population. It is far behind California, which includes 14.4 million Hispanics, and Texas with 9.8 million. Both those states are 38.1 percent Hispanic.

The break down by country of origin is very different for Florida than it is for the nation as a whole. Among Florida Hispanics, 35 percent are of Cuban descent; 26 percent Mexican; and 23 percent Puerto Rican.

Charles Zelden, Nova Southeastern University political scientist, says he looks at his own campus and sees more and more Hispanic students.

“We are the future of America,” he says. “The Latin population is growing even faster than the common wisdom would assume.”

Zelden says the numbers contained in the report and the outcome of the November election make it evident why the Republican Party has made a Hispanic, Cuban-American Sen. Marco Rubio, the face of the party ever since the November election.

“It makes sense, although given the numbers it would make even more sense if he were Mexican and not Cuban,” Zelden says.

He speculates about whether newly-elected Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, who is already making his voice heard on Capitol Hill, may eventually challenge Rubio as the Hispanic face of the party.

At least 10 states around the country saw increases in their Hispanic populations of more than 100 percent since 2000. In the South, Georgia and North Carolina saw large increases and both now have more than 800,000 Hispanic residents.

The survey shows that educational levels of Hispanics rose over the 11 years studied. The high school dropout rate among Hispanics 16-19 years old plummeted from 17.5 percent in 2000 to 6.8 percent in 2011. The percentage of Hispanics 18-24 years old enrolled in college rose sharply, from 20 to 32.9 percent in the 11 years.

The median income of a Hispanic household in 2011 was $39,000. That compared to $67,000 for Asian households; $54,400 for whites; and $32,600 for African-Americans. Some 13 million Hispanics live in poverty, 25.9 percent of the total Hispanic population and 22 percent receive food stamps. Only African-Americans have higher rates in those categories, with 27.9 percent living in poverty and 28 percent receiving food stamps.

But Hispanics have by far the highest percentage of persons without health insurance, 30 percent. That compares to 10.8 percent for whites; 15.4 percent for Asians; and 18.6 percent for blacks.

Palm Beach Post researcher Niels Heimeriks contributed to this story.