Texas
edged closer to joining “majority-minority” Hawaii, California,
New Mexico and the District of Columbia, according to new state and county
population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, the U.S. Census
Bureau said today.
Estimates for July 1, 2003, showed Texas had
a 49.5 percent minority population, i.e., made up of all people except
single-race, non-Hispanic whites. Hawaii’s minority population is
77 percent; New Mexico’s, 56 percent; and California’s, 55
percent. The District of Columbia is 72 percent minority.
The race data for the states and 3,141 counties
cover the population who reported one race alone and people who reported
two or more races. The estimates are provided by single year of age and
selected age groups for each state and by five-year age groups for counties.
The following race data are for people reporting
the specified race, whether or not they reported any other races.
State Highlights
- Hispanics (may be of any race) — California
had the largest population in July 2003 (12.2 million) and the largest
numerical increase (1.2 million) since April 2000; New Mexico was the
state where Hispanics comprised the highest proportion of the total
population (43 percent).
- Blacks — New York had the largest population
in July 2003 (3.6 million); Florida had the largest numerical increase
(292,100) since April 2000; the District of Columbia was where blacks
comprised the highest proportion of the total population (60 percent).
- Asians — California had both the largest population
(4.6 million) in July 2003 and the largest numerical increase (367,100)
since April 2000; Hawaii was the state where Asians made up the highest
proportion of the total population (58 percent).
- American Indians and Alaska natives — California
had the largest population (683,900) in July 2003; Arizona had the largest
numerical increase (29,400) since April 2000; Alaska was the state where
American Indians and Alaska natives made up the highest proportion (19
percent) of the total.
- Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders —
Hawaii had the largest population (282,500); California, the largest
numerical increase (12,700) since April 2000; Hawaii also was where
native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders made up the largest proportion
(23 percent) of the total population.
County Highlights
- Hispanics (may be of any race) — Los Angeles
County, Calif., had the largest population (4.6 million) and the biggest
numerical increase (330,800) from 2000 to 2003.
- Blacks — Cook County, Ill., had the largest
population (1.4 million); and Broward County, Fla., had the largest
numerical increase (70,000) between 2000 and 2003.
- Asians — Los Angeles County, Calif., had the
largest population (1.3 million) and the largest numerical increase
(76,700) from 2000 to 2003.
- American Indians and Alaska natives — Los Angeles
County had the largest population in 2003 (154,900); Maricopa County,
Ariz., had the largest numerical increase between 2000 and 2003 (10,800).
- Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders —
Honolulu County, Hawaii, had the largest population (186,200) of this
race; and Bronx County, N.Y., registered the largest numerical increase
(4,100) between 2000 and 2003.
The federal government treats Hispanic origin
and race as distinct concepts. Therefore, separate questions are asked
about them. For further details, see U.S. Census Bureau Guidance on
the Presentation and Comparison of Race and Hispanic-Origin Data (June
12, 2003), available at <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/compraceho.html>.
The Census Bureau develops state and county
population estimates by characteristics using administrative records on
births, deaths and migration to estimate population change from the most
recent census. For more detail regarding the methodology, please see <http://www.census.gov/popest/topics/methodology>.
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