Hispanics Spur Oklahoma's Population Growth

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The U.S. Census Bureau says Oklahoma's population has grown by more than 128,000 since 2000 with more than half the increase due to an influx of Hispanics. The bureau says total

Thursday, May 17th 2007, 8:39 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The U.S. Census Bureau says Oklahoma's population has grown by more than 128,000 since 2000 with more than half the increase due to an influx of Hispanics. The bureau says total population rose from 3.45 million to almost 3.58 million in 2006. Of the increase Hispanics accounted for more than 68,000.

The Census Bureau says Hispanics are the third largest minority in the state behind American Indians and blacks but Hispanics are the fastest growing minority with a 38% increase since 2000. If current trends continue Hispanics would become the state's largest minority in three years.

As a percentage Hispanics make up just under 7% of the Oklahoma population while American Indians are 8% and blacks are just under 8%.

Non-Hispanic whites make up 78% of all Oklahomans.