North Carolina Minority Health Facts: Hispanics/Latinos State Center for Health Statistics and Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities July 2010 This report presents demographic, social, economic, also describe those for whom Spanish is their and health information about North Carolina’s native language. Some view this term as a positive Hispanic/Latino population. A variety of topic areas descriptor, especially in the media. Others regard are covered, including mortality, chronic diseases, the term “Hispanic” as Eurocentric, connoting HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, health risk colonialism and disregarding the influences of the factors, access to health care, quality of life, and indigenous cultures of the Americas. The term maternal and infant health, and child and adolescent “Hispanic” is more commonly used in the eastern health. United States, Florida, and Texas. The term Latino or Latina (female) is used to refer What is in a Name? — Origin of the Terms to people originating from, or having a heritage Hispanic and Latino related to, Latin America, which is made up of many Hispanics or Latinos (in this report Hispanic and countries encompassed by Mexico, Central America, Latino are used interchangeably) are those people the Caribbean, and South America. This term is who classified themselves in one of the specific widely preferred in California. Latin Americans Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino categories listed on the are distinguished by their diversity and their native Census 2000 questionnaire — Mexican, Mexican tongue may be Spanish, Portuguese, and/or French, American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, or Cuban — as depending on whether the country was colonized well as those who indicate that they are other by Spain, Portugal, or France. However, the term is Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. The term Hispanic was not appropriate for the millions of Native Americans used formally for the first time by the United States who inhabit Latin America. in the 1980 census. “Hispanic” and “Latino” have For those who have cultural roots outside of the been used to suggest ethnic or cultural homogeneity United States and either born or raised in the United among people of Latin American heritage; they do States, there may be an affinity to two cultures not refer to racial background. While many Hispanic and some people may not be fully integrated into Americans may experience group affinity due to either one. Terms may be created from within the language, historical experiences, cultural values, population to define a new identity made up of a and socioeconomic status, the group is in fact mix of two cultural worlds. It is best to ask people very diverse and may identify themselves more by which term they prefer to be called. national origin or birthplace. In North Carolina, the terms are often used The term Hispanic is derived from the Latin word together — “Hispanic/Latino” — so as to be all- “Hispania,” which means Spain, and is used to encompassing when referring to the population. In refer to people who trace their cultural origins to the 2000 Census the term “Hispanic” was changed Spain and the Latin American countries colonized to “Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino” and defined as by Spain, with no Indian ancestry. The term may follows: “A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish Age and Geographic Characteristics of culture or origin, regardless of race.” Hispanics/Latinos in North Carolina The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the 2008 Hispanic/ On average, Hispanics in North Carolina are Latino population of North Carolina at 684,770 or younger than the white population. According to the 7.4 percent of the total population.1 According to U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 American Community Census estimates, North Carolina’s Hispanic/Latino Survey, the median age of the state’s Hispanic population has increased 788 percent since 1990 population was 25 years, compared to 41 years for when the population was estimated at 77,118. the white population of the state.2 Figure 1 presents the number of Hispanics living in each county and also the percentage of each Geographic Origins of Hispanics/Latinos in county’s total population that is Hispanic. It can North Carolina be seen that while the largest number of Hispanics Hispanic residents of North Carolina are from three are in Wake and Mecklenburg counties; the highest sources: those born in North Carolina; those moving percentage of Hispanics relative to the total from other United States jurisdictions; and those population in the county are located in Montgomery, moving directly to the state from Mexico and other Lee, Sampson, and Duplin counties. Latin American countries. According to the Pew Hispanic Research Center, nearly half (47%) of North Social and Economic Well-Being Carolina Hispanics were born in North Carolina.2 The percentage of Hispanic families living below The number of Hispanic births in North Carolina the federal poverty level (for example $21,834 has increased dramatically over the last decade. annual income for a family of four) in 2008 was From 1999–2008, the percentage of North Carolina 24.8 compared to 6.7 for whites.5 The 2008 median resident births to Hispanic/Latina mothers increased household income in families where the head of the 91 percent — rising from 8.7 percent of all births householder is Hispanic/Latino is $34,426 compared in 1999 to 16.5 percent by 2008.3 Approximately to $52,412 for white households.5 Over 85 percent half (53%) of North Carolina Hispanics are foreign- of whites have received a high school diploma born. The majority of foreign-born Hispanics are of or higher compared to 51 percent of Hispanics.5 Mexican origin (70%), with Central American origins The unemployment rate in 2008 for Hispanics comprising another sizeable portion of the population was higher compared to whites (7.7 compared (17%). Among foreign-born Hispanics, 50 percent to 5.4).5 Low income, low educational level, and entered the U.S. after 1999, 36 percent entered unemployment are all associated with a higher rate during the 1990s, and 14 percent before 1990.2 Data of health problems. compiled by the Department of Homeland Security on North Carolina residents who obtained permanent legal resident status reveals that Mexico is the Mortality most common country of origin for North Carolina Table 1 shows the leading causes of death for immigrants. In FY2009, immigrants from Mexico Hispanics in North Carolina in 2008. The top cause represented nearly 16 percent of all people obtaining of death among Hispanics is cancer. The second permanent legal residence in the state. Immigrants leading cause of death among Hispanics is motor from other Latin American countries, such as vehicle injuries, which ranked substantially lower Columbia (3%), El Salvador (2%), Dominican among whites (10th) and African Americans (11th). Republic (1.8%), Peru (1.6%), and Brazil (1.2%) Homicide also ranked higher among Hispanics. As also represented a significant portion of immigrants with whites and African Americans, cancer and obtaining legal residence in the state.4 diseases of the heart ranked in the top three. Minority Health Facts • Hispanics/Latinos — July 2010 2 Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities and State Center for Health Statistics Figure 1 Hispanic/Latino Population North Carolina: Numbers C u Alleghany C rr Ashe Northampton a i Gates P m tu a c Surry Warren s d k Stokes Rockingham Caswell Person q e Pe u n Hertford o Vance rq ta u n Watauga Halifax im k Wilkes C a Granville h ns Yadkin o Forsyth w Mitchell Avery Orange a Guilford n Alamance Franklin Bertie Caldwell Durham Nash Yancey Alexander Davie Madison Edgecombe Iredell Martin Washington Tyrrell Dare Burke Davidson Wake Randolph Wilson McDowell Chatham Buncombe Catawba Rowan Haywood Pitt Beaufort Swain Hyde Lincoln Johnston Greene Graham Rutherford Lee Henderson Cabarrus Harnett Wayne Jackson Cleveland Polk Gaston Stanly Moore Macon Montgomery Lenoir Craven Cherokee Transylvania Mecklenburg Clay Pamlico Cumberland Jones Richmond Hoke Sampson Union Anson Duplin Carteret Scotland Onslow Robeson Bladen Pender Number New Columbus Hanover 114 - 6,381 Brunswick 6,382 - 21,002 21,003 - 37,235 37,236 - 96,214 Hispanic/Latino Population North Carolina: Percents C u Alleghany C rr Ashe Northampton a i Gates P m tu a c Surry Warren s d k Stokes Rockingham Caswell Person q e Pe u n Hertford o Vance rq ta u n Watauga Halifax im k C a Wilkes Granville h n o s Yadkin w Forsyth Orange a Mitchell Avery Guilford Franklin n Alamance Bertie Caldwell Durham Nash Yancey Alexander Davie Madison Edgecombe Iredell Martin Washington Tyrrell Dare Burke Davidson Wake Randolph Wilson McDowell Chatham Buncombe Catawba Rowan Haywood Pitt Beaufort Swain Hyde Lincoln Johnston Greene Graham Rutherford Lee Henderson Cabarrus Harnett Wayne Jackson Cleveland Stanly Polk Gaston Moore Macon Montgomery Lenoir Cherokee Transylvania Mecklenburg Craven Clay Pamlico Cumberland Jones Richmond Hoke Sampson Union Anson Duplin Carteret Scotland Onslow Robeson Bladen Pender New Percent Hanover Columbus 1.1 - 3.9 Brunswick 4.0 - 7.5 7.6 - 12.5 12.6 - 21.4 Source: NCHS, 2008 Bridged Population Minority Health Facts ♦ Hispanics/Latinos — July 2010 Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities and State Center for Health Statistics 3 Table 1 Table 2 Leading Causes of Death Among Age-Adjusted Death Rates* for Major Causes of Death Hispanics/Latinos in North Carolina, 2008 by Race/Ethnicity, North Carolina Residents, 2004–2008 Number