Mapping the U.S. Hispanic Population for Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th to October 15th marks Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States, a time to honor and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. As the U.S. Census Bureau observes, “Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. In 1968, Congress set aside a week for this observance and two decades later expanded it to a month stretching from September 15 to October 15. The timing is historically significant as September 15 is the anniversary of independence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence September 16 and September 18, respectively.”
As the National Park Service notes, Hispanic Heritage Month “traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans. More than 500 years of Hispanic and Latino history and heritage can be found in national parks or shared through National Park Service programs and partners in communities across the country.” They also make a note regarding terminology: “Hispanic generally refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a Spanish-speaking country. Latino, Latina, Latine, or Latinx, generally refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a country in Latin America. It is often a personal choice which term is used by an individual. There are a lot of connections between Latino and Hispanic American identity in the US, so National Hispanic American Heritage Month celebrations often include Latino Americans as well.”
Hispanic Heritage Month is also a time to explore the geography of the Hispanic and Latino population in the United States. In this article, we’ll examine some of the recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau to visualize the geography of the Hispanic and Latino population across the United States.
The Hispanic population in the United States has experienced significant growth over the past several decades. In 2023, based on American Community Survey estimates, there were 65,140,277 Hispanic or Latino persons in the United States, which represents 19.4 percent of the 334,914,896 total population in the U.S. As such, approximately 1 in 5 persons in the U.S. is counted as Hispanic or Latino. To better understand the distribution of Hispanic Americans across the country, let’s explore some key visualizations for states and counties.
State-Level Hispanic Population
The map below visualizes the Hispanic or Latino population percent by state in 2023, using data from the 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.
As the map illustrates, there are important regional variations in the Hispanic population. And as the following tables illustrate, the states of California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois have the top five largest Hispanic populations; whereas New Mexico, California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada, have comprise the states with the top five largest percentages of their total populations that are Hispanic or Latino.
However, it’s important to note that Hispanic communities are present in all regions of the country, contributing to the nation’s diversity. A closer look at other levels of geography, such as county-level population, provides a more nuanced picture of the geography of the Hispanic population in the U.S.
County-Level Hispanic Population
The map below visualizes the Hispanic or Latino population percent by state in 2022 using data from the 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Zoom in on the map for a more detailed view of regions of the country with smaller county sizes. Focusing in on the county level provides a more granular view of Hispanic population geographic distribution. Some counties, particularly in the Southwest and along the border with Mexico, in south Florida, and in many metro regions across the country with greater population densities and diversity overall, have a higher percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents. These areas often reflect the historical and cultural geography of Hispanic communities as well as domestic and international migration trends in the twenty-first century.
Metro Area Hispanic Population
The Hispanic or Latino population comprises sizeable proportions of metro area populations across the country. The chart below lists the top 25 metro areas by Hispanic or Latino population size in 2023. Examining the Hispanic population at the metropolitan area level reveals additional insights. Large and influential metro areas like Los Angeles, New York, and Miami have some of the largest and diverse Hispanic communities. These areas often serve as cultural hubs and economic centers for Hispanic and Latino residents. Also found among the list are Sunbelt metro areas like Atlanta, Austin, and Dallas, that have been experiencing considerable growth overall in the twenty-first century, with many economic opportunities drawing people to move there from other parts of the U.S. and from other countries.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Hispanic and Latino Americans. From music and art to cuisine and language, this community has and continues to make invaluable contributions to the diverse tapestry across the United States. In this article, we explored the geography of Hispanic and Latino population geography in the United States at the state and county level and for metropolitan areas.
