Latinos Account For Overall NY Pop. Growth

 WASHINGTON  -- The growth of the Latino community accounts for New York's population increase since 2000, according to a National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund analysis of newly released Census 2010 data.  

While New York's overall population grew 2.1% from 19 million to 19.4 million over the last decade, the number of Latino residents jumped 19.2% from 2.9 million to 3.4 million.  

Latinos are now the state's second-largest population group and represent 18% of the state population.  

The Census data also reveal significant Latino populations in many of New York's ten largest counties, including Westchester(22%), Queens (28%), and Bronx (54%).

An overwhelming majority (90%) of the state's Latino residents live in the ten top counties.

"As a Latino elected official, I am proud of the growth shown by New York's Hispanic community. What's happening in New Yorkis also happening throughout the United States. The Hispanic population's growth is accounting for dynamic changes in our society.  This growth will soon have a socio-economic impact in all of the cities in New York State," said New York Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Peter M. Rivera, whose district includes portions of the Bronx.

Many of New York's ten largest cities also have sizeable Latino populations, including Yonkers (35%), New Rochelle (28%) andNew York City (29%).  

Additionally, the data reveal that Latinos comprise 22% of all New Yorkers under 18, while 2.4 million are 18 and older.

During the 2010 reapportionment, New York lost two congressional seats, but that loss would likely have been greater were it not for the increase in the state's Latino population.

"As New York now undertakes it 2011 redistricting, those who draw its maps must recognize this Latino population growth by ensuring the new maps allow Latinos to choose their elected leaders in a fair and equitable manner," added NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas.  

The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.