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.
The U.S. Census Bureau collected data about the month.
Population
50.5 million
The Hispanic population of the United States as of April 1, 2010, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 16.3 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition, there are 3.7 million residents of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
43%
Percentage increase in the Hispanic population between April 1, 2000, and April 1, 2010, making Hispanics the fastest-growing minority group.
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
35.3 million
The number of Hispanics counted during the 2000 Census.
22.4 million
The nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 Census.
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).
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 or Latino origin.
States and counties
14 million
The population of the Hispanic-origin population that lived in California in 2010, up from 11 million in 2000.
16
The number of states with at least a half-million Hispanic residents — Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
46.3%
The percentage of New Mexico’s population that was Hispanic in 2010, the highest of any state. Hispanics also made up at least one-fifth of the population in California and Texas, at 38 percent each, followed by Arizona (30 percent), Nevada (27 percent), Florida (22 percent) and Colorado (21 percent). New Mexico had 953,403 Hispanics.
148%
The percentage increase in the Hispanic population in South Carolina between April 1, 2000, and April 1, 2010, the highest of any state.
4.7 million
The Hispanic population of Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2010. This is the highest of any county.
96%
Proportion of the population of Webb County, Texas, that was Hispanic as of 2010. This is the highest proportion of any county.
82
Number of the nation’s 3,143 counties that were majority-Hispanic.
3 million
The increase in California’s Hispanic population between April 1, 2000, and April 1, 2010.
25
Number of states in which Hispanics were the largest minority group. The states were Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
Businesses
2.3 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007, up 43.7 percent from 2002.
$345.2 billion
Receipts generated by Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007, up 55.5 percent from 2002.
23.6%
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.
30%
Percentage of Hispanic-owned businesses in the construction and the other services sectors; 50.8 percent of the receipts of Hispanic-owned businesses were concentrated in wholesale trade, construction and retail trade.
Families and children
10.4 million
The number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2010.
63%
The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple.
39%
The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple with children younger than 18 in 2010.
67%
Percentage of Hispanic children living with two parents.
44%
Percentage of Hispanic married couples with children under 18 where both spouses were employed in 2010.
Spanish language
35 million
The number of U.S. residents 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2009. Those who hablan español constituted 12 percent of U.S. residents. More than half of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”
17 million
The number of U.S. residents 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 1990.
76%
Percentage of Hispanics 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2009.
Income, poverty and health insurance
$38,039
The median income of Hispanic households in 2009.
25.3%
The poverty rate among Hispanics in 2009, up from 23.2 percent in 2008.
32.4%
The percentage of Hispanics who lacked health insurance in 2009, up from 30.7 percent in 2008.
Education
63%
The percentage of Hispanics 25 and older that had at least a high school education in 2010.
14%
The percentage of the Hispanic population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2010.
3.9 million
The number of Hispanics 18 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2010.
1 million
Number of Hispanics 18 and older with advanced degrees in 2010 (master’s, professional, doctorate).
12%
Percentage of college students (both undergraduate and graduate students) in October 2009 who were Hispanic.
20%
Percentage of elementary and high school students that were Hispanic in 2009.
Foreign-born
47%
Percent of the foreign-born population that was Hispanic in 2009.
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.
Jobs
68%
Percentage of Hispanics or Latinos 16 and older who were in the civilian labor force in 2009.
19%
The percentage of civilian employed Hispanics or Latinos 16 and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations in 2009.
Voting
9.7 million
The number of Hispanic citizens who reported voting in the 2008 presidential election, about
2 million more than voted in 2004. The percentage of Hispanic citizens voting went from
47 percent in 2004 to 50 percent in 2008.
Serving our country
1.1 million
The number of Hispanics or Latinos 18 and older who are veterans of the U.S. armed forces.