More On Lehigh Valley Population Change

I previously wrote about population changes in the Lehigh Valley region. Lehigh Valley Independent put up the neat map up top, which shows the population changes over the past year. Several things this map suggests:

• Northampton County is over 300,000 residents.
• Lehigh County is probably over 345,000 now.
• Berks County is probably around 408,000.
• Monroe County is finally slowing a bit, and Carbon is losing steam.

Interesting stuff, particularly heading towards re-districting.

The Lehigh Valley In 2010- How Big Is The Change?

These were the numbers in the 2000 Census for the counties of the Lehigh Valley region:

• Northampton County (PA)- 267,066
• Lehigh County (PA)- 312,090
• Warren County (NJ)- 102,437
• Carbon County (PA)- 58,802
• Monroe County (PA)- 138,687
• Berks County (PA)- 373,638

The Census Bureau said in 2009 that they are at these levels:

• Northampton County (PA)- 298,990
• Lehigh County (PA)- 343,519
• Warren County (NJ)- 109,638
• Carbon County (PA)- 63,865
• Monroe County (PA)- 166,355
• Berks County (PA)- 407,125

Additionally, in 2000, the Lehigh Valley's cities had populations of:

• Allentown (PA)- 106,632
• Bethlehem (PA)- 71,329
• Easton (PA)- 26,263
• Phillipsburg (NJ)- 15,166
• Lehighton (PA)- 5,537
• Stroudsburg (PA)- 5,756
• East Stroudsburg (PA)- 9,888
• Reading (PA)- 81,207
• Kutztown (PA)- 5,067

I wonder what will come of the new census numbers? My guess is, the numbers will look like 2009's. With more people, but less Congressional seats, Pennsylvania is likely to have a very different looking map. Northampton and Lehigh Counties will have 60,000 more, at least, people in them. Will the 15th district look a lot different? Probably not a lot, but the district will probably change a bit. Carbon County will likely look a bit different Congressionally, same for Berks County. I think it's possible in Warren County as well.

Census Stats: Latinos

From Daily Kos:

The U.S. Census Bureau is gradually releasing demographic data from its 2010 survey, and the first batch of state-level specifics show Hispanic populations rising sharply.
Hispanic populations have grown, both by percentage of states' total populations and by raw numbers, in each of the eight states for which Hispanic-origin data have been released. In some cases, Hispanic populations nearly doubled.

• Arkansas: 6.4 percent (186,050), up from 3.2 percent (2,586,534) in 2000
• Indiana: 6 percent (389,707), up from 3.5 percent (214,536) in 2000
• Iowa: 5 percent (151,544), up from 2.8 percent (82,473) in 2000
• Louisiana: 4.2 percent (192,560), up from 2.4 percent (77,083) in 2000
• Maryland: 8.2 percent (470,632), up from 4.3 percent (227,916) in 2000
• Mississippi: 2.7 percent (81,481), up from 1.4 percent (39,569) in 2000
• New Jersey: 17.7 percent (1,555,144), up from 13.3 percent (1,117,191) in 2000
• Vermont: 1.5 percent (9,208), up from 0.9 percent (5,504) in 2000

The Census Bureau will release the rest of its state-level demographic data over the next month and a half, after which it will be used for redistricting as new congressional and state-legislative district lines are drawn. Texas will be included in the next batch.

There are several impacts from this data. One is that we need to recognize the unmistakable future Hispanic influence on our culture, even for those who wish it wasn't so. Two, our politics will change. Hispanics gave President Obama 67% in 2008. The GOP, at some point, will once again push right on immigration, probably during the next debate over the issue in Congress. They also will certainly have nativist rhetoric in the Arizona Senate primary, in the heart of the southwest. In fact, with Senate races in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas in 2012, immigration issues will be front and center, and Republican primary candidates will spew nativist hate. This will reach the airwaves, and reach the rising Hispanic populations not just in those states, but in the ones listed above.