Census: Hispanic population growing at 17 percent

BY JEFF CULL jcull@florida-weekly.com

Lee County's population is getting younger and more diverse according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau late last week.

New figures show the county grew 5 percent in the one-year period ending July 1, 2006 but the Hispanic population increased at more than three times that rate - or 17 percent - during that same period.

"It just shows what a growing market the Hispanic market is," said Leonardo Garcia, executive director of the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "It's a big wake up call for business."

Of that increase - which amounted to 27,126 new residents - nearly one-half was of Hispanic origin. Hispanics now make up 16 percent of Lee's population compared to 14 percent in 2005.

And the county's getting younger.

The percentage of residents over 65 dropped from 23 percent in 2005 to 22 percent in 2006.

The median age is also creeping down - it's 42.7 years now compared to 43.2 years in 2005.

The 10 counties with the highest proportion of people 65 and older is dominated by Florida which contributed four counties to the list, led by Charlotte County at 31.2 percent, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

Lee County's Hispanic population increased by 17 percent in one year ending July 1, 2006. Nationwide, nearly one in every 10 of the nation's 3,141 counties has a population that is more than 50 percent minority. Lee County's minority population stands at 26.3 percent up from 24.4 percent in 2005.

Minority population is defined as anyone who indicated that they were either Hispanic or a race other than white alone.

Eight counties that had not previously been minority dominated pushed the national total to 303.

Based on total population, Starr County, Tex., located on the border with Mexico, had the highest minority proportion of all counties at 98 percent. Among the nation's 25 most populous counties, Miami Dade had the highest proportion of minorities, at 82 percent.

Los Angeles County had the largest Hispanic population (4.7 million) in 2006, followed by Harris County, Tex., and Miami-Dade (1.5 million each).

Cook County (Ill.) had the largest black population (1.4 million) in July 2006, followed by Los Angeles County (1 million). ¦ Lee County population

2006 2005 Total .......................571,344 ....... 544,178

Race White ........................512,444 ....... 489,768 Black ..........................43,721 ........ 40,684 Am. Indian ....................2,271 ........... 2,102 Asian .............................6,926 .......... 6,202 Hawiian, Pac. Isd .............416 .............. 387 Two or more .................5,526 ........... 5,035

Hispanic ......................91,705 ......... 78,388 Age > 65 ...................127,048 ....... 123,550

Median age ....................42.7 ............. 43.2

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, data analysis by Florida Weekly