Raza Demographics
Based on US Census 2000
Demographics
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Demographics is the study of populations
Determining population trends is important to
address public policy issues
 Statistics are developed through privately
and government funded studies
 The largest compilation of statistics is
through the US Census
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U.S. Census
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Required in U.S. Constitution
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Article 1, §2: …[E]numeration shall be
made…within every subsequent Term
of ten Years…
Redistricting is one of the basic reason
for the census
• Every ten years political boundaries are
redefined
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Complications
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Identity & nomenclature
Undercount
Political wrangle over sampling
Identity issues
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The Latino population
is very diverse.
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16 sending countries
Variety of immigration
issues
Impact on Political
Participation
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Is there a Latino vote?
Diversity in terms of social
& political issues
Umbrella terms
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These are the terms
used to group generally
Most in this category fall
under a “mixed race”
category or mestizaje
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Hispanic
Latino
La Raza
Hispanic
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Hispanic is the term used on the U.S. Census
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By most accounts, the term was introduced by the Nixon
administration
• To identify Spanish-Speaking population in U.S.
• Problem is that many “Hispanics” don’t speak Spanish
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Not a racial category, but more of an ethnic one
 Based on linguistic heritage as opposed to language
 Term encompasses a large and diverse group of people
• 16 countries and a range of immigration patterns
 Therefore, “Hispanic” does not indicate unified set of cultural
characteristics
Many reject the term because it refers to only one part of their
heritage -- European
Latino
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An umbrella term identifying people with a
heritage related to Latin American countries
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Many people use this term to identify
themselves to each other
Also Eurocentric, but generally more acceptable
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Also refers to linguistic heritage of Romance
Languages
More self-defined
Latin@ is the non-gender specific term, used in
the last five years
La Raza
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“ Raza” literally means “race” or colloquially, “the people”
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Figuratively refers to the Spanish conquest of the indigenous Indians
of Mexico and the resulting mestizaje
•
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the mixed racial and ethnic identity of indigenous, European and African
heritage unique to the Americas.
The term Raza was popularized by Mexican educator, Jose
Vasconcellos who wrote about La Raza Cosmica to inclusively refer to
a new "race" of people born out of the neo-columbian New World.
The Raza Studies Department was originally named La Raza
Studies
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to establish an inclusive identity for the uniquely San Francisco mix of
Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, Mexicanos, Central and South Americans
living primarily in San Francisco's Mission District.
See, http://www.sfsu.edu/~raza {FAQ’s}
Mexican-American (Chicano)
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Refers to Americans of
Mexican heritage:
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Mexican, Mexican
American, Mexicano/a,
Chicano, etc.
• Chicano
• Political connotation,
refers to
acknowledgement of
exploitation in U.S. as
well as unique cultural
attributes
• Chican@ and Xican@ are
other variations
People of Mexican
origin
comprise
approximately
66% of the U.S.
Hispanic
Population
Current Population Survey, March 2000 U.S.
Census Bureau, Population Division, Ethnic &
Hispanic Statistics Branch
“Mexican heritage”
covers diverse group
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Identifies Americans of Mexican
heritage as well as Mexican
Nationals residing in the US
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Covers everyone from recent
immigrants to conquered families in
the Southwest after 1848
Note the Birth Certificate image
• The COLOR category is “Mexican”
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Substantial Diversity among
Mexican heritage sub-group
 Language
 Citizenship
 Health outcomes
Mexican-American (Chicano)
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Low socio-economic
indicators
Largest of all
Hispanic groups with
longest history in
U.S.
Immigration
motivated by
economic reasons
continued
Puerto Ricans
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Puerto Rico is a US
territory
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Highest population density
is in:
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New York, New Jersey,
Chicago & Florida
Already citizens
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9% of Hispanic population in
mainland U.S. is
Puertoriqueño
Migrate for economic
reasons
Nuyorican, Boricua
Central Americans
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Refers to people from separate distinct countries in
Central America
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Highest numbers from El Salvador, Nicaragua & Guatemala
• Civil wars countries of origin created conditions for immigration wave in
the 80’s
• Immigration based on both economic and political reasons
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15% of Hispanics in the US are Central or South
American
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Highest population density is in
• San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Washington, D.C. and
New York
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Socio-economic status:
• mixed because of immigration reasons
• Census lumps Central Americans with South Americans
Cubans
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4% of Hispanics in the US are Cuban.
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Several waves of immigration
• Pre-Revoution:
• immigraton for economic reasons
• Post-Revolution:
• Immigraton for political reasons
• 1st wave: Elites
• 2nd wave: Professional class
• 3rd wave: Marielistas
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Highest rate of HS graduation and income
Emerging & past immigration trends
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Carribbean
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Dominican Republic
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South Americans
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Peru
Colombia
Ecuador
Chile (70’s)
Top Ten Latino States
Rank STATE
Estimated
Hispanic
Population,
7/1/99
4/1/90
|-----7/1/99-----|
Population|--4/1/90 to 7/1/99--|
Rank of
Estimates
Numeric
Percent Percent Percent
Base
Change
Change Hispanic Hispanic
1 CALIFORNIA
2 TEXAS
3 NEW YORK
4 FLORIDA
5 ILLINOIS
6 ARIZONA
7 NEW JERSEY
8 NEW MEXICO
9 COLORADO
10 MASSACHUSETTS
10,459,616
6,045,430
2,660,685
2,334,403
1,276,193
1,084,250
1,027,277
708,407
603,582
390,947
7,704,348
4,339,874
2,213,943
1,574,148
904,449
688,355
747,737
579,227
424,309
287,561
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2,755,268
1,705,556
446,742
760,255
371,744
395,895
279,540
129,180
179,273
103,386
35.8
39.3
20.2
48.3
41.1
57.5
37.4
22.3
42.3
36.0
31.6
30.2
14.6
15.4
10.5
22.7
12.6
40.7
14.9
6.3
2
3
8
6
10
4
9
1
7
19
Latino Origin by State
Latino Population by State
Hispanic Increase by State
The numeric and percentage increase in the nation's Hispanic population
between the 1990 and 2000 censuses was respectively,
58% .
13.0 million &
Hispanics accounted for 40 % of the increase in the nation's total
population during this period.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-81.html>
Chavalitos by State
The median age of the Hispanic population in 2000 is 25.9 , meaning one-half were above
this midpoint and one-half, below. Among Hispanic groups, median age ranged from 24.2
years for Mexicans to 40.7 years for Cubans. The median age for the entire U.S. population
was 35.3 years. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-81.html>
Featured Public Policy issue:
Education
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12 million of the Hispanic
population were under 18
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Educational attainment lags
behind non-hispanic whites
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Among Hispanics,Mexicans, 25
year and older had the lowest
proportion of HS diplomas
Cubans, 25 year and older had
the highest proportion of
Hispanics with a bachelor’s
degree
Take the Quiz

The US Census has prepared a quiz to
test your knowledge,check it out:

Try the pop quiz by clicking here
Bibliography
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U.S, Census: <http://www.census.gov>
Sternad, Hispanic, Latino, Mexican-American and Chicano Labeling