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Regional Snapshot: Metro ’s Hispanic and Latino Community

Atlanta Regional Commission, 2018 For more information, contact: [email protected]

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND In Summary…

Metro Atlanta is home to an increasing number of international residents. Not only are the counties in metro Atlanta among the most diverse in the southeast, a significant proportion of recent growth has come from those born in different countries, particularly those from Hispanic origins.

Georgia has the fastest growth rate of Latino population in the nation, and the Latino population more than doubled in metro Atlanta last decade. Strong Latino growth is forecasted to continue, especially in the core metro counties.

Lately, the majority of growth in Latino population has come from those born in the . In previous , immigration (i.e. new arrivals) was the primary driver of growth.

The Latino population is significantly younger than other races/ethnicities. The median age of Latinos is 26, compared to 36 overall and 41 for White, Non-Hispanic.

In the 2017 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey, Hispanic/Latino respondents demonstrated higher levels of overall optimism for the future than did respondents overall (among other key differences). 2015 ESRI Diversity Index, by

ESRI’s diversity index provides an estimate of how likely it is that two people, selected at random from the same geographic , will belong to different racial or ethnic groups. An index value of 0 means an area exhibits “no diversity” and 100 means that there is “complete diversity.”

In the adjacent map, counties scoring the highest on the index are shaded in red. In general, counties surrounding ’s major metros score among the highest in diversity, especially in metro Atlanta.

3 Source: ESRI Demographics 2015 Foreign Born Population Change by County 2011 to 2016 100,000 88,946 90,000 79,370 80,000

70,000

60,000 50,000 43,920 40,000 33,899 30,000 19,313 20,000 13,425 15,056 Number ofPeople Number 10,370 8,470 7,810 9,513 10,000 5,273 3,401 3,266 2,453 1,232 425 413 6 0

-10,000 -1,170 Gwinnett Cobb Fulton DeKalb Henry Fayette Douglas Clayton Rockdale County County County County County County County County County County

Change in Total Population, 2011 to 2016 Change in Foreign Born Population, 2011 to 2016

The metro Atlanta region’s relatively high diversity index score is due, in large part, to the size of our foreign born population. The chart above shows, by county, the change in foreign born population from 2011 to 2016 with Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb experiencing the greatest increases in foreign born population (in absolute numbers) as compared to the rest of the region. In Cobb County, for example, almost one in four new residents over the time period were born in a different country.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2007-2011 and 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates Foreign Born Population by Origin

Foreign Born Population by Foreign Born Population from by Region of Birth Country of Birth Cuba Other Northern Brazil Oceania 8,570 America As shown in the leftmost pie Canada 9,170 701 2,503 12,819 chart, nearly 49% of the region’s Colombia foreign born population is from 17,431 Europe the “Americas.” 67,800 Africa El Salvador The pie chart to the right breaks 17,788 82,414 down the foreign born Other South Mexico population from the Americas by Americas America 164,267 country. Hispanic countries – 367,120 25,537 such as Mexico, El Salvador, and Jamaica other Central and South Asia 32,681 American countries, make up 233,670 the majority of the region’s Other Caribbean foreign born population. 36,877 Other Central America 41,279

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates Georgia has THE HIGHEST Hispanic/Latino Growth Rate

Given that a high proportion of the metro Atlanta region’s foreign born population comes from Hispanic countries, then it may not be surprising that Georgia has the highest Hispanic/Latino growth rate.

While 10th by absolute number, Georgia was 1st in percent change in the Hispanic/Latino population from 2000 to 2015, which grew at a rate of over 118%.

Source: Pew Research Center Hispanic/Latino Population Growth the Fastest

Metro Atlanta’s Hispanic/Latino population growth mirrors that of the state. From 2000 to 2010, Metro Atlanta increased its Hispanic/Latino population over 100%.

Source: National Equity Atlas 2015 Race & Ethnicity

Boston 71.8% 7.0% 7.3% 10.6%

Philadelphia 62.7% 20.3% 5.6% 9.1% Looking at race & ethnicity for top metros, Chicago 53.3% 16.5% 6.2% 22.1% the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is Atlanta 48.7% 32.7% 5.4% 10.7% majority-minority, with Hispanics (of any race), 47.8% 15.2% 6.0% 28.6% comprising 10.7% of the NYC 47.0% 15.7% 10.6% 24.3% region’s population in 2015. 46.3% 24.6% 10.0% 15.6%

Houston 37.3% 16.8% 7.3% 36.7%

Miami 31.9% 19.9% 2.4% 43.9%

LA 29.9% 6.5% 15.1% 45.5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

White Black American Indian/ Native Asian Other Multiple Races Hispanic (Any Race)

Source: ESRI Demographics Metro Total Population, Hispanic/Latino, 2016 55.1% Riverside 50.5% Los Angeles 45.1% 44.4% Hispanic/Latino Population, 36.8% San Diego 33.5% By the Numbers: % Hispanic Las Vegas 30.9% Phoenix 30.6% Orlando 29.5% Dallas 28.6% Among major U.S. metros, the Atlanta 24.3% Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranks 22.9% th 20 in the size of the Hispanic/Latino Chicago 22.1% population, with 10.5% of total population San Francisco 21.9% identifying as Hispanic/Latino. Sacramento 21.4% Tampa 18.6% Washington 15.5% Portland 11.7% 10.8% Atlanta 10.5% Charlotte 9.9% Seattle 9.9% Philadelphia 9.2% City, MO 8.9% Minneapolis 5.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates Change in Race & Ethnicity by County (2015-2040)

ARC’s adopted forecasts show continued gains in the Hispanic population through 2040, especially in core metro counties (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett). However, it’s not just the metro core that is seeing a boom in its Hispanic population…

Source: ARC Forecasts, series 15 Hispanic/Latino Population, By the Numbers: Total Population

County 2016 Hispanic/Latino Population* Gwinnett 189,050 Cobb 96,263 Fulton 74,853 DeKalb 63,287 Hall 55,074 Georgia: 972,698 Clayton 36,372 Whitfield 35,975 Cherokee 24,274 Forsyth 20,613 Chatham 18,300 As expected, the core metro Atlanta counties have the highest numbers of Hispanic/Latino residents; however, the Hispanic/Latino population is reaching further into the outer-lying counties of the Atlanta metro, as well as growing among Georgia’s other major metros.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Estimates Hispanic/Latino Population, By the Numbers: Percent Population Change (*Among Counties with at least 1,000 Hispanic/Latino Population) County % Change, 2013 – 2016: This map, and the adjacent table, further Hispanic/Latino Population highlight the growth of the Hispanic/Latino Stewart 34% population into the periphery of Georgia’s major metros – not only Atlanta – but Effingham 33% Athens, Augusta, Columbus, and Savannah. Columbia 25.5% The largest percentage change in the Bryan 23.1% Hispanic/Latino population* occurred in Stewart County, (just south of the Columbus Madison 22.2% MSA) which experienced a 34% growth in Barrow 21.5% the Hispanic/Latino population from 2013 to 2016. By comparison, the Hispanic/Latino Paulding 20.1% population grew by just 7.5% in the state Newton 19.4% during the same time period.

Oconee 18.9%

Walton 18.2% Georgia: 7.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Estimates U.S Born Latinos Driving Growth Recently

Over the last 15 years, Hispanic/Latino population growth is primarily due to a rise in U.S. born Hispanics/Latinos, as opposed to prior decades, when immigration was the primary driver of growth among the Hispanic/Latino population.

Source: National Equity Atlas Percent Hispanic/Latino Population, by County, 1980-2010 1980 1990 2000 2010

The maps above show the growth pattern of the Hispanic/Latino population (by county) from 1980 to 2010. In 1980, the Hispanic/Latino population was concentrated in and around the state’s military bases – (Chattahoochee 0.1% - 2.2% County) and (Liberty County). However, beginning in the 1990s, the Hispanic/Latino population began to migrate 2.2% - 3.9% to the other major metros in the state. By 2010, the Hispanic/Latino population makes up over 2% of the population in the 3.9% - 5.6% majority of the counties of the state, with many counties over 5% Hispanic/Latino, and a few approaching 30% or more. 5.6% - 9.4% Whitfield County, the global leader in the carpet industry, has the highest concentration of Hispanics/Latinos currently, with 9.4% - 33.5% Hispanics/Latinos making up 33.5% of the total population.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010 Percent Hispanic/Latino Population, by County, 2016

In 2016, the percentage of the Hispanic/Latino population increased significantly compared to prior decades, with nearly all counties having a Hispanic/Latino population over 2%.

Similar to 2010, the highest concentrations of Hispanics/Latinos are found in and around the major metros, and along the southeastern and coastal regions of the state. 0.1% - 2.2%

2.2% - 3.9%

3.9% - 5.6%

5.6% - 9.4%

9.4% - 33.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates Metro Atlanta: Current Distribution of Hispanic/Latino Populations

The adjacent map shows Hispanic/Latino population distribution by neighborhood (census tract) for the metro area.

Orange, red, and brown shades indicate the areas of highest concentration of the Hispanic/Latino population – primarily found in tracts in northeastern counties (Gwinnett, Barrow, Hall, Forsyth), north Fulton, and Cobb counties. 0% < 2.9%

2.9% < 5.1% The heaviest concentrations of Hispanics/Latinos are found in 5.1% < 8.3% suburban town centers throughout the region, in places like Canton and 8.3% < 15.4% Cartersville to the north, and Griffin and Newnan to the south. 15.4% < 88.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates Metro Atlanta: Areas With Greatest Increases in Hispanic/Latino Populations

Similar to the prior slide, the adjacent map shows how Hispanic/Latino population distribution has changed since 2000, by census tract for the metro area.

Highlighted areas on this map are those that experienced at least an 8.1 percentage- point increase in the share of Latino population since 2000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates Hispanic/Latinos are Younger

How does this growth among the Hispanic/Latino population affect the metro region? Well, for starters, metro Atlanta Hispanics/Latinos are younger – with a median age of just 26, well below the median age of the region as a whole. With youth, comes different needs, concerns, and goals, potentially impacting service delivery and future planning and policy decisions.

Source: National Equity Atlas Biggest Problem Facing the Region?

4.9% Transportation 6.2% The Metro Atlanta Speaks (MAS) survey, Crime 4.6% now in its fifth year, allows us to better 27.2% Public Education understand differences in perceptions and 4.9% concerns among metro region residents. Human Services For the overall population of metro Economy 5.4% Atlanta in the 2017 edition of MAS, Public Health respondents felt the biggest problem facing the region was transportation. The Taxes 9.2% second and third biggest problems Race Relations identified were Crime and Public 16.9% Education. Other DK 9.3% 11.5%

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey Biggest Problem Facing the Region, if you are Hispanic/Latino 1.8%

4.8% Due to the sample size of MAS, we can Transportation break own overall responses to look at 5.7% what various segments of the population Human Services 25.8% think – by age, region, race/ethnicity, etc. 5.7% Public Health Among the Hispanic/Latino population of Public Education metro Atlanta, respondents felt the 7.4% biggest problem facing the region was Crime transportation – the same answer given Taxes by respondents as a whole. What is more 8.9% revealing are the second and third biggest Race Relations 14.7% problems identified – Human Services and Public Health (as compared to Crime Economy and Public Education for the population Other 12.5% as a whole). DK 12.7%

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey Would you be willing to pay more in taxes to expand public transit, including buses and rail? Overall Hispanic/Latino 13.9% 17.1% 20.6% 18.9%

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree 18.6% Strongly Disagree 27.1% 37.0% 45.0%

Given that over a quarter of the metro Atlanta Hispanic/Latino respondents viewed transportation as the region’s largest problem, it should come as no surprise that the majority of respondents would also be willing to pay more taxes to expand public transit. In fact, nearly two-thirds (63.9%) of the Hispanic/Latino population agrees or strongly agrees that they would be willing to pay more in taxes to expand public transit, as compared to 50.9% overall.

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey “I Frequently Lack Transportation to Get to Places I Need to Go...”

50.0%

45.0%

40.0% Perhaps one of the reasons that 35.0% Hispanic/Latino respondents were willing to pay more in taxes 30.0% to fund public transit is because 25.0% one-third of the Hispanic/Latino respondents felt that they 20.0% 27.8% frequently lacked transportation 18.7% 15.0% to get to places that they needed to go. 10.0%

5.0% 8.0% 5.5% 0.0% All respondents Hispanic/Latino Strongly Agree Agree

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey Views of Public Education in metro Atlanta overall?

45.0%

40.0%

35.0% Though Hispanic/Latino respondents identified public 30.0% education among the top five 25.0% largest problems in the region, 36.5% they hold a better perception of 20.0% the quality of public education in 28.7% the metro, with 42.9% viewing 15.0% public education as “excellent” or “good”, compared to just 10.0% 32.5% of respondents overall.

5.0% 3.8% 6.4% 0.0% All respondents Hispanic/Latino Excellent Good

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey Rate metro Atlanta as place to raise kids?

70.0%

60.0%

50.0% Additionally, nearly 60% of Hispanic/Latino respondents 40.0% 37.0% rated the metro as an “excellent” or “good” place to 30.0% 38.8% rate kids, compared to about 50% of respondents overall. 20.0%

10.0% 21.6% 11.1% 0.0% All respondents Hispanic/Latino Excellent Good

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey Optimism for the future?

Hispanic/Latino 46.7% 14.9% 36.3%

All respondents 29.6% 26.0% 42.3%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0% Better in 3-4 years Worse in 3-4 years About the same DK And, keeping with the trend of the prior two slides, Hispanic/Latino respondents also had more optimism for the future, with nearly half (46.7%) of Hispanic/Latino respondents believing that the state of the region will be “better in 3-4 years.”

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey