Minorities now make up 35 percent of the U.S. population and count for more than 50 percent of residents in Texas, Hawaii, New Mexico, California and Washington, D.C., the Census Bureau says in new estimates for 2009. The update indicates that minorities increased by 107.2 million people, or 2.5 percent, last year, with growth coming from Hispanic births and individuals who identify as biracial. The white population remained flat at just under 200 million, 65 percent of the country. In 2000, whites made up 79 percent of the population, the Associated Press said.
The overall minority population is up from 34 percent a year ago, continuing a trend that could collectively make minorities -- African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics -- a majority in the county by mid-century, the AP said. The update Thursday was the last until completion of the 10-year 2010 Census, which will affect the political balance as congressional and state legislative districts are redrawn to reflect population shifts.
