Arkansas Has Highest Hispanic Population Growth (Editorial)

It’s strange to think that Arkansas has the fastest-rising number of Hispanics of any state, but that’s what the Census Bureau reported in mid-August in its 2005 American Community Survey.

The state’s Hispanic population grew by 48 percent last year, and Hispanics now make up 4.7 percent of all Arkansans. African-Americans make up 15.3 percent and non-Hispanic whites make up 77 percent.

Arkansas has a population of 2,779,154. That includes 447,072 blacks, 39,027 American Indians, 32,712 Asians, 130,846 Hispanics, 3,700 native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders, and 2,139,069 non-Hispanic whites.

Nationwide, the 42.7 million Hispanics (14.5 percent of the population) now outnumber the 39.7 million blacks (12.8 percent) out of a population that has reached 296.4 million.

What it means is that America is more diverse than ever. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, now make up 12.4 percent of the people in the U.S.

It also indicates that the Arkansas economy is rather healthy as well, because immigrants come to a state for jobs.

With increasing diversity comes the potential for increasing division, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Arkansans are generally tolerant of their neighbors, although never before have we had to deal with so many who speak another language.

We cannot afford to let that barrier become an even bigger barrier to opportunities for all.

Yes, there is a challenge in trying to assimilate the newcomers, particularly in Washington and Benton counties, where most of the Hispanic growth is taking place.

Schools and businesses must cope with many changes to meet the needs of the new immigrants.

On a related issue, the Pew Hispanic Center analyzed immigration data for each state using Census Bureau data and found that the high levels of immigration in the past 15 years do not appear to have hurt employment opportunities for American workers.

The center found no clear correlation as it evaluated immigration data against unemployment levels.

Of course, part of that is because immigrants typically move to booming areas — like Washington and Benton counties — with low unemployment rates.

It’s rather obvious, at least in Northwest Arkansas, that immigrants have not detracted from the boom and could be part of the reason the area is booming.

Immigration hasn’t been a major issue in Arkansas yet, but as the Hispanic population grows, it could become a factor in future elections.

It should serve as impetus for Arkansans to further their educations and work skills.