Oregon Office of Economic Analysis

Hispanic Heritage Month 2010: Sept. 15 — Oct. 15

 

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

 

428,469

The estimated Hispanic population of Oregon as of July 1, 2009, making people of Hispanic origin the largest minority group in Oregon. Hispanics constituted 11.2 percent of the state’s total population. The number of Hispanic origin individuals in Oregon was 112,707 in 1990 and 65,847 in 1980. (Bureau of Census)

56%

Increase in Hispanic origin population of Oregon between April 1, 2000 and July 1, 2009 – making Hispanics the fastest-growing race/ethnic group. Overall population increased by 12 percent during the same period. (BoC)

 

More than 1

. . . of every three people added to Oregon’s population between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009, was Hispanic. There were 15,632 Hispanics added to the population during the period. (BoC)

 

84%

The percentage of Hispanic origin people in Oregon who were of Mexican background in 2008, compared to 66% in the U.S. (American Community Survey)

 

23%

Percentage of children in Oregon younger than 5 who were Hispanic in 2009. All in all, Hispanics comprised 25 percent of children younger than 18. (BoC)

 

23.9 years

Median age of Oregon’s Hispanic population in 2009. Median age for Oregon’s whole population was 38.1 years. (BoC)

 

116

Number of Hispanic males in 2009 per every 100 Hispanic females in Oregon. This was in sharp contrast to the overall population, which had 98 males per every 100 females. (BoC)

 

Counties

 

55%

Percentage of Oregon’s all Hispanic-origin population in 2009 that lived in just three counties: Washington, Multnomah, and Marion. Washington County was home to 19.2 percent, Multnomah County was home to 18.4 percent, and Marion County was home to 17.2 percent Hispanics. (BoC)

 

32%

Percentage of Hispanic-origin people in Morrow County’s population – highest in the state. It was followed by Malheur County with 28.4 percent and Hood River County with 27.4 percent. On the other extreme, Baker, Union, Gilliam, Grant, and Wallowa counties each had less than 4 percent of their population as Hispanic-origin. (BoC)

 

Businesses

 

11,332

The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in Oregon in 2007, up 78.2 percent from 2002. (Census Bureau: Survey of Business Owners, preliminary estimates)

 

$1.667 billion

Receipts generated by Oregon’s Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007, up 17.7 percent from 2002. (SBO)

 

3.3%

The percentage of Oregon’s all businesses that was Hispanic-owned in 2007. (SBO)

 

Families and Children

 

78 thousand

The number of Hispanic family households in Oregon in 2008. Of these households, 72 percent included children younger than 18, compared to 47 percent for all Oregon’s family households included children younger than 18. (ACS)

 

Spanish Language

 

293,976

The number of Oregon residents 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2008. This accounted for 70 percent of all Hispanic origin population in Oregon. Those who hablan español constituted 8.3 percent of Oregon residents. (ACS)

 

45%

Percent of 5 years and older Hispanic origin residents of Oregon in 2008 who spoke Spanish at home spoke English “very well.” (ACS)

Income and Poverty

 

$37,300

The median income of Oregon’s Hispanic households in 2008, compared to $50,169 for the entire population. Hispanic household income was down 3.7 percent from the previous year after adjusting for inflation. (ACS)

 

26.1%

The poverty rate among Hispanics in Oregon in 2008, up from 23.6 percent in 2007. (ACS)

 

Education

57%

The percentage of Hispanics 25 and older in Oregon that had at least a high school education in 2008, compared to 88.6 percent for the whole population. (ACS)

 

11%

The percentage of Oregon’s Hispanic population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2008. This is considerably lower than 28.1 percent for the comparable Oregon population. (ACS)

 

23,532

The number of Hispanics 25 and older in Oregon who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2008. (ACS)

 

5%

Percentage of students in Oregon’s four-year colleges in October 2009 who were Hispanic. (Oregon University System, Office of Institutional Research)

 

20%

Percentage of elementary and high school students in Oregon that was Hispanic on October 1, 2009. (Oregon Department of Education)

 

Birth

 

21%

Percentage of all births in Oregon to Hispanic mothers in 2007. (Oregon Center for Health Statistics)

 

46%

Percent of the foreign-born population that was Hispanic in 2008 in Oregon. (ACS)

 

Jobs

 

75%

Percentage of Hispanics or Latinos 16 years and older in Oregon who were in the civilian labor force in 2008, compared to 65.3 percent all population 16 years and over. (ACS)

15%

The percentage of civilian employed Hispanics or Latinos 16 years and older in Oregon who worked in management, professional and related occupations in 2008. The percentage in comparable occupation in overall population was 34.5 percent. Additional 17 percent of Hispanics worked in production, transportation and material moving occupations. Another 13.2 percent worked in construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations. Approximately 27 percent of Hispanics 16 or older worked in service occupations. (ACS)

 

Serving our Country

 

7,959

The number of Hispanics or Latinos 18 years and older in 2007 in Oregon who were veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)