Hispanic Heritage Month 2012: Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

Hispanic Heritage Month 2012:

Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, which was observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and
Sept. 16. The observance was expanded in 1988 by Congress to a monthlong celebration
(Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), effective the following year. America celebrates the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
                                                                                                                               

Population

52.0 million

The Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2011, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 16.7 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition, there are 3.7 million residents of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
Source: 2011 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2011/index.html>

1.3 million
Number of Hispanics added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2010, and July 1, 2011. This number is more than half of the approximately 2.3 million added to the nation’s population during this period.
Source: 2011 Population Estimates
National Characteristics: Population by Sex, Race, and Hispanic origin
<http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2011/index.html>

132.8 million  

The projected Hispanic population of the United States on July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 30 percent of the nation’s population by that date.

Source: Population Projections
<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb08-123.html>
50.5 million

The number of Hispanics counted during the 2010 Census. This was about a 43 percent increase from the Hispanic population in the 2000 Census, which was 35.3 million.
Source: The Hispanic Population: 2010
<http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf>



2nd  
Ranking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2010. Only Mexico
(112 million) had a larger Hispanic population than the United States (50.5 million).
Source: International Data Base
<http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbsum.html>

63%
The percentage of Hispanic-origin people in the United States who were of Mexican background in 2010. Another 9.2 percent were of Puerto Rican background, 3.5 percent Cuban,
3.3 percent Salvadoran and 2.8 percent Dominican. The remainder was of some other
Central American, South American or other Hispanic/Latino origin.
Source: The Hispanic Population: 2010
<http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf>

Businesses

Source for statements in this section: Statistics for All U.S. Firms by Industry, Gender, Ethnicity, and Race for the U.S., States, Metro Areas, Counties, and Places: 2007, Table SB0700CSA01

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=SBO_2007_00CSA01&prodType=table>

2.3 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007, up 43.6 percent from 2002.

$350.7 billion
Receipts generated by Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007, up 58.0 percent from 2002.

23.7%
The percentage of businesses in New Mexico in 2007 that were Hispanic-owned, which led all states. Florida (22.4 percent) and Texas (20.7 percent) were runners-up.

Families and Children

10.7 million
The number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2011.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: Table F1 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2011.html>

Spanish Language

37.0 million
The number of U.S. residents 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2010. Those who hablan español constituted 12.8 percent of U.S. residents 5 and older. More than half of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey: Table B16001 <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B16001&prodType=table>

Names

4

The number of Hispanic surnames ranked among the 15 most common in 2000. It was the first time that a Hispanic surname reached the top 15 during a census. Garcia was the most frequent Hispanic surname, occurring 858,289 times and placing eighth on the list — up from 18th in 1990. Rodriguez (ninth), Martinez (11th) and Hernandez (15th) were the next most common Hispanic surnames.
Source: Census 2000 Genealogy
<http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/freqnames2k.html>

Voting

7%

The percentage of Hispanic voters in the 2010 congressional election. This is the highest percentage of Hispanics for a nonpresidential election. Hispanics comprised 6 percent of voters in 2006.

Source: News Release: Census Bureau Reports Hispanic Voter Turnout Reaches Record High for Congressional Election.

Hispanic Congressional Caucus -->

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/voting/cb11-164.html>

Serving our Country

1.2 million                                                
The number of Hispanics or Latinos 18 and older who are veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey: Table B21001I <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B21001I&prodType=table>