Hispanic Growth in the U.S.

Why are we surrounded by Latino culture? Let’s face it, one of the most important facts is that Hispanics are here to stay for a while, at least some time beyond 2050 when this demographic group will peak according to projections by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Hispanic growth is fueled from different sources. Why do they continue to grow? Simple, according to Ignacio Hernandez Jr, president of Hispanic Marketing Group the growth is due to:

To top it off, take a look at this Hispanic and Latino cultures fact: there are more children born to Hispanics in the U.S. every year than there are Hispanics immigrating to the U.S. This means there are probably lots of Hispanics and Latinos to be born.

Hispanic Growth and Effects on American Culture

The numbers show a shift in demographics—as the U.S. Census Bureau states, 43.5 million Hispanics account for almost 15% of the total population.

One of the most exciting Latin culture facts is that demographic changes are also reflected in our everyday life. What do I mean by that? Just look around…

If you are a producer of any kind of good or service, chances are you have in place a plan to capture and take care of the growing Hispanic and Latino segment. Your company probably has products with labels and instructions in Spanish, special customer service lines for Spanish-speaking consumers, and even extensions lines or an entire product line to satisfy this segment.

Hispanic growth is reflected in physical changes in your neighborhood. As a neighbor you may have noticed the changes in your locality, and probably how mixed it has become (at least in some of the middle-class suburban neighborhoods) where you see “Latin bodegas” growing in number.

Restaurants that cater to Hispanic and Latino cultures or that include some dishes based on the flavors of the Latino culture are on the rise. You probably heard of “Nuevo Latino”, a type of cuisine that provides Latin-inspired dishes.

Professionals are finding it useful to learn some Spanish to cater to their new clientele. I know this for a fact; I have taught Spanish to professionals in the dental field so they can understand the needs of their Hispanic and Latino customers.

Have you checked out the aisles in supermarkets lately? I am not only referring to ethnic supermarkets. Regular supermarkets now have an ethnic aisle, and guess what? They carry mainly Hispanic and Latino foods like frijoles, gandules, "Goya" seasonings, “pulpa” of fruit to make juices, and other items characteristic of the culture.

It is obvious that Hispanic growth is shaping and transforming American culture by introducing more exposure to Hispanic culture with its characteristics and traditions.