overview of the southeastern united states

Changing Demographics of Immigrants in the Southeast*

Katharine M. Donato, Ph.D.Vanderbilt University

Department of Sociology

Prepared for the Four Freedoms Fund Tour of Southeast, June 6, 2011

Overview

• Dramatic demographic

change has occurred in

the US Southeast

Between 2000 & 2009: More Growth in SE than in US

Foreign Born Population

2009 2000 % Increase

United States 37,440,696 30,377,745 23% (~7M)

SE Region 3,148,043 2,088,246 51% (~2M)

Southeast: Excludes Florida

Source: 2000 US Census, 2009 American Community Survey

Growth among Largest 8 National Origins in SE



Mexico 625,696 381,094 64% (~245K)

India 188,367 93,824 101% (~95K)

Germany 182,888 171,886 6% (~11K)

El Salvador 134,905 81,453 66% (~53K)

Korea 125,144 71,760 74% (~53K)

Vietnam 120,221 101,749 18% (~18K)

Philippines 96,069 69,981 37% (~26K)

China 92,269 50,530 83% (~42K)


Growth among Next Largest8 National Origins in SE



Honduras 80,853 37,558 115% (~43K)

Guatemala 79,881 34,716 130% (~45K)

Canada 72,447 63,225 15% (~9K)

Japan 59,626 47,900 24% (~12K)

Jamaica 51,406 27,111 90% (~24K)

Colombia 46,303 29,682 56% (~17K)

Peru 40,399 20,470 97% (~20K)

Pakistan 36,497 25,408 44% (~11K)

Note: Excludes EnglandSource: 2000 US Census, 2009 American Community Survey

Growth among Next Largest8 National Origins in SE



Ethiopia 36,279 14,995 142% (~21K)

Brazil 35,080 12,817 174% (~22K)

Cuba 30,117 22,891 32% (~7K)

Nigeria 29,614 19,672 51% (~10K)

Iran 27,933 23,347 20% (~5K)

Thailand 25,167 14,190 77% (~11K)

USSR/Russia 24,891 16,219 53% (~9K)

Bolivia 24,864 16,628 50% (~50K)


Variation in National Origins by Race/Ethnicity

• Immigrants represent much

larger share of Hispanics

and Asians in SE

• Half or more are foreign

born in SE

106,761

135,659

348,726

286,850

397,609

1,644,873

26,263,361

97,178

122,371

368,508

276,437

417,931

1,574,552

16,847,218

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

South Carolina

Tennessee

North Carolina

Virginia

Georgia

Southeastern Region

United States

Southeast Hispanic Population by Nativity

US Born Foreign BornSource: 2009 American Community Survey

15,312

24,992

54,755

107,579

81,752

352,179

4,281,827

44,673

63,570

130,284

287,854

213,885

888,718

8,972,675

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

South Carolina

Tennessee

North Carolina

Virginia

Georgia

Southeastern Region

United States

Southeast Asian/PI Population by Nativity


2,872,009

4,720,400

6,081,341

4,976,503

5,445,651

37,502,433

134,458,665

82,225

92,426

171,632

233,818

190,944

969,749

8,203,442

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

South Carolina

Tennessee

North Carolina

Virginia

Georgia

Southeastern Region

United States

Southeast White Population by Nativity


1,256,968

1,013,326

1,894,518

1,430,999

2,743,346

12,803,239

28,645,208

15,350

19,074

57,706

83,511

161,774

383,942

2,955,203

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

South Carolina

Tennessee

North Carolina

Virginia

Georgia

Southeastern Region

United States

Southeast African American Population by Nativity


How are Immigrants Concentrated in SE Metro Areas?

Examine Largest Metros of Different Immigrant Groups

15

17

20

21

23

34

50

55

56

177

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Birmingham, AL

Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson SC

Washington, DC/MD/VA

Memphis, TN/AR/MS

Fayetteville-Springdale, AR

Nashville, TN

Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC

Raleigh-Durham, NC

Atlanta, GA

Top 10 Metro Destinations in the SE (in thousands):

Mexicans

Source: 2009 American Community Survey

6

7

9

10

14

21

23

30

68

110

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Fayetteville-Springdale, AR

Norfolk-VA Beach--Newport News, VA

Richmond-Petersburg, VA

Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC

Nashville, TN

Raleigh-Durham, NC


New Orleans, LA

Atlanta, GA



Central American/Caribbean


3

5

5

7

8

8

9

15

54

75

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Nashville, TN




Raleigh-Durham, NC

New Orleans, LA



Atlanta, GA



South Americans


1

2

2

3

3

6

6

6

6

69

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Columbia, SC


Nashville, TN

New Orleans, LA




Raleigh-Durham, NC


Atlanta, GA


West Indies


13

14

14

21

22

35

37

41

81

105

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%

Columbia, SC




Nashville, TN

Raleigh-Durham, NC




Atlanta, GA


Europe/Canada/Australia


5

5

6

7

11

13

17

37

56

69

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Memphis, TN/AR/MS

Birmingham, AL

Louisville, KY/IN


Nashville, TN


Raleigh-Durham, NC



Atlanta, GA


Africa


21

25

26

27

33

47

50

55

188

254

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Memphis, TN/AR/MS

New Orleans, LA



Nashville, TN



Raleigh-Durham, NC

Atlanta, GA



Asia and Middle-East


Demographic Change in SE

• Since 2000 big growth in immigrants

• Some national origins are larger, and some growing

at faster rates

• Hispanics & Asians in SE have disproportionately

more foreign born (50% or more)

• Many SE cities have diverse groups of immigrants

• Final slides describe socioeconomic profile of

immigrants in SE, using rates of child poverty and

education

Poverty Status of Children by

Nativity & Place

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

United States Southeastern Region

Georgia Virginia North Carolina

Tennessee South Carolina

Percent of Child Population in Poverty by Nativity: Hispanics


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50




Percent of Child Population in Poverty by Nativity: Blacks


0

5

10

15

20

25

30




Percent of Child Population in Poverty by Nativity: Asians


0

5

10

15

20

25




Percent of Child Population in Poverty by Nativity: Whites


Poverty Profile is Mixed• Among Hispanics in US and SE, immigrant

children more likely to live in poverty (but US

born children are more likely in NC and SC)o Likely due to more mixed status families in some states

• Among African Americans, US born children

more likely to live in poverty

• Among Asians/MEs & Whites, immigrant

children more likely to live in poverty

What about Education?

• Paper to be released this week

from Brookings shows a diverse skill

profile of immigrants in SE

• Of the top 100 metros in the SE, all

but one are high/balanced skill

destinations

Of top 100 Metro Areas in SE, All but One have Balanced Immigrant Skill Ratio

Source: Singer & colleagues, Brookings Release, June 9, 2011

Summary

• Substantial growth of immigrants in SE

• Many different origin groups

• Foreign born represent more than half of all Asians

and Hispanics in many SE destinations

• Some SE metros have very diverse immigrant groups

• Rates of child poverty are higher for immigrant

children among Whites, Asians, and among

Hispanics in some SE cities

• But educational profile suggests immigrants in

all/most SE metros have balanced skill ratio

Contact Information

If you need/want more information, please contact:

Katharine M. Donato, Ph.D.

Department of Sociology

Vanderbilt University

[email protected]

(615) 322-7500

Thank you!

mailto:[email protected]

overview of the southeastern united states

Documents

american community survey11how

us southeast

se foreign born population

us census

se region hispanics

largest8 national origins

se metro areas

atlanta metro area