Hispanic Population Continues to Grow
MONTGOMERY, Ala.
Alabama’s Hispanic population continues to grow at a fast rate, according to the latest U.S. Census figures, but the actual growth may be larger than the numbers suggest.
Overall, the South’s Hispanic population has tallied the fastest growth rate of any region in the country.
In Alabama, the Hispanic population grew from 24,629 in 1990 to 75,830 in 2000. Census estimates show a 2004 Hispanic population of 98,388.
The increase is greater than the population growth for Black or White Alabama citizens, but a University of Alabama at Birmingham professor says the number of Hispanic residents may be much larger.
“A large percentage of the Hispanic immigrants in Alabama are undocumented,” said Isabel Scarinci, a professor with UAB’s Division of Preventive Medicine. Part of her job is to research methods for preventing cancer among minority women, including Hispanics.
