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[chron.com] Hispanics exceed Anglos in Harris County

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by wreck, Aug 9, 2007.

  1. wreck

    wreck Contributing Member

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    In a powerful sign of the region's growing diversity, more Hispanics than Anglos now live in Harris County as it led the nation in growth of minority residents, according to Census Bureau estimates to be released today.

    This historic demographic shift reflects persistent immigration, high birth rates among Latinos and ongoing migration to outlying suburban counties, experts say. And a dramatic increase in Harris County's black population is partly attributed to an influx of residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

    ''All you have to do is go down to Southwest Houston, which is like our Ellis Island, and see who is standing at the bus stops," said Joe Rubio, vice president of Community Relations for Catholic Charities. ''You'll see people in native dress from all over the world."

    Today's Census Bureau data shows the latest population estimates for counties as of July, 1, 2006. Harris gained 121,400 minority residents between July 2005 and July 2006.

    The minority population in the county is 2.5 million as of July 2006, or 63 percent of the total 3.9 million residents. In 2005, the county's population was 3.7 million.

    There were an estimated 1.48 million Hispanics in Harris County in July 2006, or 38.2 percent of the county's total. That exceeded, for the first time, the county's estimated 1.44 million Anglo residents, who make up 36.9 percent of the population.

    That marks a significant reversal since 2000, when the Hispanic percentage in Harris was 33; for Anglos it was 42.

    The county's Hispanic population now ranks second in the country, tied with Miami-Dade, and behind Los Angeles.

    Karl Eschbach, associate director of the Texas State Data Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the latest Census data reflect the ongoing transformation of Houston and Texas, where no group will be in the majority.

    ''The county is evolving into a diverse and multi-ethnic place that is making it a forerunner of what the United States is becoming," Eschbach said.

    In all, 303 counties — nearly one in every 10 of the nation's 3,141 counties — had populations that were more than 50 percent minority by July 2006. Harris County's minority population places it third nationally, behind Chicago's Cook County and Los Angeles.

    ''It's a wonderful thing for Houston," said Stephen Klineburg, a Rice University sociology professor who has conducted annual population surveys for 26 years.

    ''With the Anglo population dropping, if Houston had not been one of those great gateway cities (it) would have lost population like some of those cities that are falling behind," Klineburg said.

    Nestor Rodriguez, director of the Center for Immigration Research at the University of Houston, said the county's population increase is part of a ''demographic transformation" caused by unrelenting immigration.

    ''I think Harris County is beginning to change the traditional Texas image," Rodriguez said. ''The Texan is becoming an international person, an immigrant. They could come from India, from Mexico, from Germany."

    Preparing for future
    The population estimates have major implications for Harris County and Houston.

    Experts say minority population growth will affect education, health services, the number of minorities elected to political office and have an impact on the city's economic development.

    ''We're trying to prepare to build the infrastructure that's necessary" to accommodate growth and improve quality of life, said Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, citing roads, bridges, parks, health clinics, and hike and bike trails.

    Klineburg noted that 88 percent of the Houston ISD student body is either Hispanic or non-Hispanic black, and 78 percent of students qualify for the free lunch program.

    ''If Houston's Latinos and African-Americans are unprepared to succeed in the knowledge economy of the 21st century, it is hard to envision a prosperous future for Houston," he said.

    Harris County Judge Ed Emmett called the growth a ''positive sign," and one that was expected.

    The county's black population increased by 52,000 in a year, the largest numerical increase in the nation and one several officials linked to an influx of Katrina evacuees.

    ''Clearly a significant part of that is a Katrina result," Emmett said. ''A lot of people who came from New Orleans were black."

    Demographic shifts also occurred in outlying counties, where the minority population of Waller County rose to 50.4 percent and 50.1 percent in Wharton County.

    Last year Waller was at 49.8 percent while Wharton was 49.5 percent.

    "Waller and Wharton just barely crossed the threshold," said Eschbach, adding the Hispanic population in both counties increased.

    Wharton had an estimated population of 41,475 in 2006 compared to 41,403 in 2005. Waller's population grew to 35,185 in 2006 compared to 34,801 in 2005.

    Local officials in both counties were not surprised by the new estimates and said the population changes will have little or no short-term political or social impact.

    Debra Medina, the chairwoman of the Wharton County Republican Party, said voter turnout is generally low among minorities such as Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks.

    "It is not anything new," she said.

    "We are talking about incremental change here."

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5039230.html
     
  2. percicles

    percicles Contributing Member

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    They're not hispanics. They're coconuts. ;)
     
  3. LonghornFan

    LonghornFan Contributing Member

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    :eek:

    How is that even possible?
     
  4. swilkins

    swilkins Contributing Member

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    Hispanics?
     
  5. bladeage

    bladeage Contributing Member

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    how is it not? We hispanics have like 9 kids.. and we live in a 2 bedroom house. btw, hispanics are from Hispania.
     
  6. DrLudicrous

    DrLudicrous Contributing Member

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    White flight.

    A lot of people don't want their kids going to inner city schools so they move them out to the suburbs.
     
  7. DonkeyMagic

    DonkeyMagic Contributing Member
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    its only the beginning.
     
  8. Storm Surge

    Storm Surge Rookie

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    I think white people should start having 10 babies each, that should even thigns out
     
  9. dntrwl

    dntrwl Member

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    shockingly not shocking
     
  10. swilkins

    swilkins Contributing Member

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    This made me laugh man.

    Thanks
    :)
     
  11. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    ''It's a wonderful thing for Houston," said Stephen Klineburg, a Rice University sociology professor who has conducted annual population surveys for 26 years.

    It's wonderful to have more of one race than another?

    That's racist.
     
  12. CoolGuy

    CoolGuy Contributing Member

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    Questions: are people who are from mexico hispanic or mexican? is there a difference? are all mexicans hispanic? are all hispanics mexican? whats the correct term to use?
     
  13. DonkeyMagic

    DonkeyMagic Contributing Member
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    :D

    wonderful for him...he actually got his name in the paper. Who said sociology would get you nowhere?
     
  14. WhoMikeJames

    WhoMikeJames Contributing Member

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    You ever been to an HISD school recently?
     
  15. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    ALL hispanics are Mexican.
     
  16. weslinder

    weslinder Contributing Member

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    Scola put the Hispanics over the top.
     
  17. WhoMikeJames

    WhoMikeJames Contributing Member

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    I don't know If you are joking but you are wrong. Hispanic refers to the dark blue on the map.

    [​IMG]

    Look above. Any person from the dark blue can be considered Hispanic.
     
  18. Extraordinary_2

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    Soon, this is the United States of MEXICO.

    PLEASE STOP HAVING TOO MANY KIDS, MEXICANO...

    F
     
  19. WhoMikeJames

    WhoMikeJames Contributing Member

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    Once Again the term Hispanic does NOT only mean people from Mexico.
     
  20. percicles

    percicles Contributing Member

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    Mexicans who were born in Mexico but moved at whatever age are catigorically Mexican. They usually have a really good handle on there customs and a proper grasp of the spanish language.

    The term Hispanic has untill recently been traditionally designated for the people of ancient spain and portugal. The term has taken on an ubrella meaning recently for all people of from hispanic America.

    Further, the term Hispanic for some (those born in South America) carries negative connotations associated with 2nd, 3rd, generation Mexican Americans who are also lumped into the term. As a way of dissacociating themselves from this, the term Latin American has become an acceptable substitute. Coincidently, Latin America was a deragatory term coined by the British to differentiate between the two colonies.

    Also, Chicano is used for 2nd, 3rd generation Mexicans with a poilitical bent.
    These kats usually don't speak a lick of spanish and act more Mexican than real Mexicans.

    I personally prefer Latin American. I refuse to be lumped in with some b*stard hybrid spanglish culture.
     
    #20 percicles, Aug 9, 2007
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2007

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