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White people will no longer make up a majority of Americans by 2042, according to new government projections. That's eight years sooner than previous estimates, made in 2004.
The nation has been growing more diverse for decades, but the process has sped up through immigration and higher birth rates among minority residents, especially Hispanics.
Salvadoran immigrant Ricardo Aparicio drove twenty minutes just for lunch at a Latino restaurant on Rockville Pike. He says he appreciates the explosion of ethnic eateries in Montgomery County (web|news) .
"When I came here in the 80's you know, it was only one, on Columbia Road. So now it's like everywhere," he said.
|
2008 |
2025 |
2050 |
|
|
TOTAL |
304,228,000 | 357,452,000 | 439,010,000 |
| WHITE | 199,804,000 | 206,662,000 | 203,347,000 |
| HISPANIC |
46,697,000 |
75,772,000 |
132,792,000 |
| BLACK |
39,031,000 |
46,594,000 |
56,944,000 |
| ASIAN |
13,599,000 |
21,109,000 |
34,399,000 |
| AMERINDIAN |
3,076,000 |
4,039,000 |
5,462,000 |
| HAWAIIAN/PI |
564,000 |
808,000 |
1,222,000 |
The diversity of restaurants is representative of the diverse population.
"I think I'd move to England! That's where my relatives came from," said Arlington resident Mary Rabbitt.
Hispanics will account for the most growth. By 2050, whites will make up 46 percent of the population and blacks will make up 15 percent, a relatively small increase from today. Hispanics, who make up about 15 percent of the population today, will account for 30 percent in 2050.
"It affects the economy. It affects the jobs," said Bristow resident Gada Koehler.
"This is the only country that likes to talk about that stuff! 'Ohh white people, black people, white people, black people.' What's the problem?" said Gaithersburg resident Matthew Yankey.
Fairfax County (web|news) has been dealing with the changing demographics for years. The police department recruits bilingual officers and sends them to special classes.
"Actually taking officers off the street for a period of six months, put them through an intensified language training program and reintroduce them into the community," said Don Gotthardt of the Fairfax County Police.
Census officials point to immigration and higher birth rates, especially among Hispanics, for the gains in the non-white population.
It's a sensitive topic for some: "'Press one for English'--that gets me furious!,"said one person.
While others embrace the changes.
"There were people when we first got married that were very concerned about cross marriages. In fact in the State of Virginia it was illegal to have a cross marriage," said Fairfax resident Jordan Brilliant
The U.S. has nearly 305 million people today. The population is projected to hit 400 million in 2039 and 439 million in 2050.
"That's like adding all the people from France and Britain," said Steve A. Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington group that advocates tighter immigration policies.
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On The Net: Census Bureau
