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New Jersey Owes Population Growth to Latino Community

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2011 – Policymakers must ensure that new district maps allow Latinos to choose their elected leaders

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The growth of the Latino community accounts for New Jersey's population increase since 2000, according to a National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund analysis of newlyreleased Census 2010 data.

Between 2000 and 2010, New Jersey's Latino population grew from 1.1 million to 1.6 million, and the Latino share of the population grew from 13.3% to 17.7%. Latinos are now the state's second-largest population group.

"Nearly one in five New Jerseyans is Latino. In order to ensure the state's future prosperity and well-being, New Jersey's policies must promote the economic, social and civic progress of the Latino community," said NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas. "The state's leadership must be accountable to its growing Latino population."

The increase in New Jersey's Latino population was responsible for the state's overall growth during the last decade. Between 2000 and 2010, the Latino population grew by 39.2%, while the non-Latino population declined slightly by 0.8%.

"During the 2010 reapportionment, New Jersey lost a congressional seat, and that loss might have been greater had there not been a substantial increase in the state's Latino population. As New Jersey now undertakes it 2011 redistricting, those who draw its maps must recognize Latino population growth by ensuring the new maps allow Latinos to effectively choose their elected leaders," added Arturo Vargas. "The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) prohibits states from creating districts which may dilute and or divide the votes of Latinos and other underrepresented groups. We call on New Jersey to strictly comply with VRA's requirements during this year's redistricting process."

The Census 2010 data also reveal significant Latino populations in many of New Jersey's largest cities, with Union City having the greatest share of Latinos (85%). (see below)

Table 1

Top 10 New Jersey Cities: 2010

City

Total Population

Latino Share of Population

Newark

277,140

33.8%

Jersey City

247,597

27.6%

Paterson

146,199

57.6%

Elizabeth

124,969

59.5%

Toms River

88,791

8.0%

Trenton

84,913

33.7%

Clifton

84,136

31.9%

Camden

77,344

47.0%

Passaic

69,781

71.0%

Union City

66,455

84.7%

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