DIVERSITY a Look at How Northwest Arkansas’ Population Is Changing ABOUT THIS REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DIVERSITY
nwacouncil.org welcomenwa.org engagenwa.com DIVERSITY A Look at How Northwest Arkansas’ Population is Changing ABOUT THIS REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DIVERSITY Friends, Northwest Arkansas’ diversity today looks nothing like it did in 1990 when 95.82 percent of the population was white and Hispanic/Latinos accounted for just 1.3 percent of the population. Northwest Arkansas is growing and changing. Driven by economic Hispanic/ African- Native Pacific opportunity and the low cost of living, our region continues to grow, White Latino Asian American American Islander Other become younger and increasingly more diverse. This is good news for us all. 1990 2010 In addition to increasing cultural diversity that enriches everyday life in 11,008 69,087 2.38% Northwest Arkansas, foreign-born residents contribute billions of dollars 8,981 1.94% 3,117 14.92% to our economy each year. This impact will continue to grow, and going 1.30% 6,997 1.5 1% 1,476 0.62% 5,068 1.09% forward, it is critical that we take steps to integrate everyone who 1,807 0.76% 8,761 1.89% chooses to live here into the social and economic fabric of the region. 3,593 1.50% We know that diverse communities perform better economically, and in 229,466 76 0.03% 353,302 our increasingly global economy, the regions that embrace these 95.82% POPULATION: 76.27% POPULATION: challenges of bringing diverse communities together will thrive. 239,464 463,204 We put this summary together to show the breadth of minority 2017 2022 populations in the region and present information about how our region will change over the next five years.
[Show full text]