The 2010 Census figures indicate increased diversity from 366 metro areas in the U.S. and showed that Hispanics now outnumber the number of blacks, becoming the largest minority group in 191 metro areas.
The data is significant because it could influence the political maps that are drawn during the restricting process and possibly shift the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Ethnic voting is often taken into account by states in the redistricting process.
“From now on, local, state and national politicians will need to pay attention to Hispanics rather than treating blacks as the major minority,” William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, said.
Hispanics became the largest minority in 32 more areas since the 2000 Census- partially due to Black populations moving south.
Last month’s Census Bureau reported that 1 in 6 Americans were Hispanic while 1 in 10 American’s were Black.
“A greater Hispanic presence is now evident in all parts of the country – in large and small metropolitan areas, in the Snowbelt [northern states] and in the Sunbelt [southern states],” Frey added.
[…] are becoming the largest minority group in 191 metropolitan areas, a fact that has the potential to shift the balance of power in the House of Representatives due to ethnic […]