Trends & Indicators 2011: Demography, Part II

Shoshana Akins — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:46:14 +0000

Is demography really destiny?

The makeup of the population and the perceived value of education are changing. So this year following the decennial census, we're presenting our demography figures a few ways. (We also presented a set in January.)

The universities of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) attracted more than 7,000 students of color this year—a 35% increase since 2000.

The state of Connecticut's Hispanic population grew by nearly 50% during the past decade, according to data released last month from the 2010 U.S. Census. Hispanics now comprise 13% of the state's 3.57 million people, compared with 9% in 2000. The white population declined 0.3%, while the number of African-Americans increased 17% during the decade.

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports there is a 52% likelihood that a resident in Boston's Suffolk County would live beside someone of a different race, up from 34% in 1990, according to the "diversity index" developed by demographers to use U.S. Census data to calculate the probability that two people, chosen at random from a geographic area, are of a different race.

Click to enlarge image.

New England Board of Higher Education » census

Trends & Indicators 2011: Demography, Part II