Ajúa! …. Texas Moves Closer to ‘Majority-Minority’ Status.

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 of the U.S. Census Bureau.

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.