Texas’ Hispanic population expected to pass white population soon

The Texas Tribune reported Thursday that Hispanics are expected to become the largest population group around 2022 as the state gained “almost nine Hispanic residents for every additional white resident” last year.

The Tribune cited new population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau that showed the Hispanic population reached nearly 11.4 million — an annual gain of 214,736 through July 2018 — while the white population grew by just 24,075 last year. While Texas’ white population was still greater at an approximate total of 11.9 million last year, it has only grown by approximately 484,000 since 2010 – only about a fourth the size of the 1.9 million increase in the Hispanic population within the same time frame.

While the Hispanic community is growing all across the state, 47% of Texas Hispanics live in the state’s five biggest counties — Harris, Bexar, Dallas, Tarrant and Travis. This could affect the electoral college in future elections, as lawmakers already have to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative maps to account for the population growth.

H/T: Texastribune.org

 

Rachel Kookogey is a contributor to TheRichValdes.com

Follow on Twitter @rach_kookogey