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.

Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

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.

Source: American FactFinder: United States DP-1

http://factfinder2.census.gov

and http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf

 

22.4 million

The nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 Census.

Source: The Hispanic Population: 2000 http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-3.pdf

 

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).

Source: International Data Base http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbsum.html

 

States and Counties

82

Number of the nation’s 3,143 counties that were majority-Hispanic.

Source: The Hispanic Population: 2010

http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf

 

3 million

The increase in California’s Hispanic population between April 1, 2000, and April 1, 2010.

Source: American FactFinder: California DP-1

http://factfinder2.census.gov

25

Number of states in which Hispanics were the largest minority group. These 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.

Source: American FactFinder: United States DP-1

http://www.factfinder2.census.gov

 

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

 

Families and Children

10.4 million

The number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2010.

Source: Families and Living Arrangements: Table F1 http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2010.html

 

63%

The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple.

Source: Families and Living Arrangements: Table F1 http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2010.html

 

39%

The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple with children younger than 18 in 2010.

Source: Families and Living Arrangements: Table F1

http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2010.html

 

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.”

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey: Table B16001 http://www.census.gov/acs/www/

Note: Figures will be updated late Sept. 2011

17 million

The number of U.S. residents 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 1990.

Source: Language Use in the United States: 2007

http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/acs-12.pdf

 

Education

63%

The percentage of Hispanics 25 and older that had at least a high school education in 2010. Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2010 Detailed Tables

http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2010/tables.html

14%

The percentage of the Hispanic population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2010.

Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2010

http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2010/tables.html

3.9 million

The number of Hispanics 18 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2010.

Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2010 http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/education/cps2010.html

1 million

Number of Hispanics 18 and older with advanced degrees in 2010 (e.g., master’s, professional, doctorate).

Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2010 http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/education/cps2010.html

 

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.

Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008

http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p20-562.pdf

 

Serving our Country

1.1 million

The number of Hispanics or Latinos 18 and older who are veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey: Table B21001I http://www.census.gov/acs/www/

 

 

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