Census data shows huge Hispanic growth in Texas

By JAY ROOT
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Hispanics account for two-thirds of Texas' growth over the past decade and now make up 38 percent of the state's total population, according to new local U.S. Census figures.

Non-Hispanic whites dropped to 45.3 percent and blacks make up 11.5 percent of Texas's population. The figures, which were obtained by The Associated Press, were given Thursday morning to state leaders and were set to be released publicly Thursday afternoon.

The detailed demographic data will be used to redraw boundaries for Congress and the Legislature. Texas is getting four new Congressional seats, more than any other state, and Hispanic leaders say more Latino-dominated seats should be drawn as part of the redistricting process.

``As Census figures show, Texas is becoming more ethnically and racially diverse. Without the tremendous growth of the Hispanic community, Texas would have had very little growth,'' said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, leader of the Senate Democrats. ``Our gain of four new congressional seats is solely due to minority population growth.''

Republican House Speaker Joe Straus said he looked forward to passing ``fair and legal maps that represent the make-up of Texas.''

Former U.S. Census Director and longtime Texas demographer Steve Murdock said the figures for the number of non-Hispanic whites came in below previous estimates. Their numbers grew by just 4 percent. Minority groups accounted for almost 90 percent of the 4.3 million increase in the state's population.

Asians and other racial groups went up the most on a percentage basis, increasing by 58 percent. The black population went up by over 20 percent and Hispanics saw their strength rise by more than 42 percent, figures show.

``The Hispanic growth has been even larger than we anticipated,'' Murdock said.

In Harris County, the state's largest political subdivision and home to Houston, there are now 1.7 million Hispanics, accounting for 41 percent of the population. Non-Hispanic whites make up only a third of the county, while blacks account for 18.4 percent. The white and Hispanic populations almost flipped perfectly.

In 2000, Latinos accounted for 33 percent of Harris County's population, while non-Hispanic whites made up 42 percent. Statewide, non-Hispanic whites were still the majority in 2000, making up 52 percent of the population. Projections show Hispanics will be the majority in Texas within nine years.

Texas grew by more than 20 percent over the last decade, more than twice the national rate of 9.7 percent. The state's population stands at 25.1 million. Though the state's total population grew by more than any other state, Nevada, which saw its population rise by more than a third, grew the fastest. Michigan is the only state that lost population in the past decade.

When it comes to added strength in Congress, Texas is in a league by itself. Because the seats go where the people are, the southwest is gaining influence in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Texas is adding more than any other state.

Texas already had the largest Republican delegation in Congress, holding 20 of the state's 32 seats. In the 2010 elections, the party picked up another three seats, two of them in heavily Latino districts in South Texas. With all the new growth, Texas will now have 36 seats and 38 presidential electoral votes.