Multiracial USA

The minority population in the United States is steadily rising and makes up 35% of the total, advancing an unmistakable trend that could render them the new American majority by midcentury.
New Census Bureau estimates for 2009 show that the minority population grew by 2.5%, boosted by a surge in births among Latinos and an increase in the number of people who describe themselves as multiracial. During this time, the white population remained flat, making up roughly 65% of the country (199.9 million people).
In 2000, whites comprised 79% of the total population and minorities 21%.
Four states -- Hawaii, New Mexico, California and Texas -- as well as Washington, D.C., have minority populations that exceeded 50%. About 316 of the 3,143 counties -- one in 10 -- have minority populations of 50% or greater. That's up from more than 250 counties in 2000 .And it's one state more than in 2000, when Texas had not yet become a minority state. The 35% overall minority proportion of the population was up from 34% a year ago.
The new Census Bureau estimates, released Thursday, documented a widening age and race divide. They also are the last government numbers that will be available before the completion of the 2010 census, which could change the balance of political power when legislative districts are redrawn based on population and racial diversity.
The overall rise in the minority population is due to recent sharp increases in minority births, especially among Latinos, who made up more than half of the total population gains last year. There are roughly nine births for every death among the Latino population, compared to a roughly one-to-one ratio for whites.
As a result, even with immigration of Latinos slowing, U.S. minorities make up 49% of the children born in the U.S., up one percentage point from 2008. Based on current rates, data from the 2010 census could show a new tipping point in which babies born to minorities outnumber those of babies born to whites.
Multiracial Americans, the fastest growing U.S. demographic group, also are adding to minority gains. About 5.3 million people last year were identified as being of multiple race or ethnicity, up 3.2% from the previous year.
The Latino population grew by 3.1% to 48.4 million and the Asian population increased 2.5% to 13.7 million. They now represent about 15.8% and 4.5% of the U.S. population, respectively.Blacks, who make up about 12.3% of the population, increased less than 1% last year to 37.7 million.
Most parts of the country are now totally dependent on minorities for achieving growth in their young adult and child populations, said William H. Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, citing the low birth rates among whites as well as the aging white baby-boomer population.
Minorities are especially important for current and future labor force gains in all but the most rapidly growing parts of the country, he said.
-- Associated Press