Last modified: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Report: Hispanics continue to gain population share in Indiana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- While Latinos today account for 5 percent of all Hoosiers, the state continues to have a small Hispanic population compared to other states, according to a new report from the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
The 2007 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that there are 315,000 Hispanics in Indiana. Since the last census taken in 2000, this number has grown by nearly 100,550 people.
"Our 2000 to 2007 growth rate of 47 percent places us in the middle of the pack with a rank of 23," said Rachel Justis, an analyst at the IBRC. "The largest numeric increases have occurred in California, Texas and Florida, who have each seen Hispanic population growth between 1 million people and 2.25 million people since Census 2000."
Hispanics account for 15 percent of the total U.S. population and Indiana ranks 31st on this measure among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, growth rates in the Hispanic population ranged from 9 percent in the District of Columbia (4,060 people) to 77 percent in South Carolina (73,850 people).
The report appears in the new edition of INContext, a publication the IBRC produces in partnership with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (IDWD).
Looking at growth rates by race since Census 2000, Asians led the pack, increasing roughly 42 percent (25,260 people). This was followed by a 30 percent increase (16,650 people) in those of mixed racial backgrounds. Meanwhile, the black population increased by 11 percent (55,440 people), while whites increased by only 3 percent (164,000 people).
"If you're confused because Hispanics are not showing up in this part of this discussion, remember that the Census Bureau considers that an ethnicity, not a race. Thus, an individual can be a black Hispanic, a white Hispanic or even an Asian Hispanic," Justis said. "The population estimates are slightly problematic in this regard because many Hispanics don't think of their race in terms of black or white.
"In Census 2000, many Hispanics selected 'Some Other Race' instead of a predefined race category," she added. "However, the annual estimates force everyone into one of the five standard categories. We find that Hoosier Hispanics view their race essentially the same way as Hispanics nationwide."
In 2000, nearly half, 46 percent, of Hoosier Hispanics defined themselves as white, followed closely by the 44 percent who chose the "Some Other Race" category.
Over the next few months, the IBRC will release population projections by race and ethnicity for 2010 to 2040.
Also in the latest issue of INContext are articles on the state's migration patterns, regional labor force and unemployment rates and the Columbus economy. It is available online at https://www.incontext.indiana.edu/.
Carol O. Rogers, IBRC deputy director, found that Indiana has experienced a steady in-migration of people from other countries since 2000. At the same time, the state experienced a net out-migration of Hoosiers to other states between 2001 and 2004, a trend that was reversed in 2005 and 2006.
Established in 1925, the IBRC is an information outreach service of the Kelley School. It provides and interprets economic, demographic and social information needed by business, government, educational and other nonprofit organizations, and individual data users in the state and throughout the nation. Its research can be found online at https://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/.
