HISPANIC MARKET

Hispanic or Latino Population

Fayette County has experienced growth in its Hispanic population since the early 2000s and has continued to see growth in this population subset; growing at rates 3 to 4 times faster than the total population. The distribution of Hispanic residents across the County and within the Trade Area, shows clustering within specific areas – Census Tracts with high Hispanic populations in 2010 have tended to increase their percentage of Hispanic residents in 2014. Additionally, Census data shows that recently immigrated Hispanic residents are likely to move to only a handful of Census Tracts, including 20.01 which includes Oxford Circle. Of the 28 Tracts analyzed (Trade Area), only 7 had Hispanic population increases from recently immigrated residents (those that lived abroad one year ago.) Of the 537 recent “immigrants” in the Trade Area, 291 or 54.2% moved into Census Tract 20.01. This is a slight change from 2010, where 10 Census Tracts gained recent “immigrants” and Tract 20.01 accounted for less than one-quarter of all immigrants to the Trade Area.

The Hispanic population in the Trade Area is actually lower than compared to the County, but there are significant pockets of Hispanic residents within many of the Trade Area’s Census Tracts. Within Tract 20.01, almost half (45.3%) of all residents source: US Census American Community Survey 2014 5-Year Estimates, DCI Analysis are of Hispanic origins. Additionally, as you move west, Census Tract 20.02 has another high concentration of Hispanic residents, with 44.8% of its population identified as Hispanic.

Even with that said, the percentage of Hispanics to non-Hispanics in Tract 20.01 has slightly decreased, while nearby Tracts – like Tract 20.02 – have experienced gains. This likely indicates not a net loss of Hispanic residents to the Trade Area, but a redistribution of residents to nearby areas as it begins to stabilize. Overall the Trade Area saw a net increase of approximately 2,000 new Hispanic residents.

Likely due to the influx of newly immigrated residents and a concentration of Hispanic residents, Tract 20.01 has the largest percentage of non-English speaking residents in the Trade Area. Nearly half of the population speaks a “language other than English” at home, compared to just 11.8% and 14.3% in the County and Trade Area respectively. Of the 47.6% of residents in 20.01, the vast majority –nearly 100% - speak Spanish or Creole.

While there is a significant subset of the population that speaks Spanish, about onethird of Spanish speakers in Tract 20.01, speak English “very well.” This leaves two-thirds of the population that speak English “less than well.” This likely presents a language barrier to some portion of this group, which equates to approximately 1,400 people. One of the major concerns with language barriers are an inability to communicate in a predominately English speaking society. This can cause disconnects, social isolation and an inability to find employment, education and receive the assistance needed to fully integrate into their new community. Several social and educational organizations – such as Cardinal Valley Elementary and the Village Branch Library – provide bi-lingual support and resources.

Potential Hispanic Programming

ESL or Language Education

Targeted Bilingual Outreach Immigration Services Early Childhood Education

“Newcomer Academy”

POPULATION CHANGE (2010-14) Total Populations (1) source: US Census American Community Survey 2014 5-Year Estimates, DCI Analysis

(1) Comparison of the total general population and total the Hispanic population shown

PREVIOUS RESIDENCE (1YR AGO) source: US Census American Community Survey 2014 5-Year Estimates, DCI Analysis