This month's Regional Snapshot explores the foreign born population in metro Atlanta, focusing on the largest contributor to our foreign born population growth - the Hispanic and Latino community.

1. Atlanta Regional Commission, February 2018
For more information, contact:
cdegiulio@atlantaregional.org
Regional Snapshot: Metro Atlanta’s
Hispanic and Latino Community
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

2. In Summary…
Metro Atlanta is home to an increasing number of international residents. Not only are the counties in metro Atlanta among
the most diverse in the southeast, a significant proportion of recent growth has come from those born in different countries,
particularly those from Hispanic origins.
Georgia has the fastest growth rate of Latino population in the nation, and the Latino population more than doubled in metro
Atlanta last decade. Strong Latino growth is forecasted to continue, especially in the core metro counties.
Lately, the majority of growth in Latino population has come from those born in the United States. In previous decades,
immigration (i.e. new arrivals) was the primary driver of growth.
The Latino population is significantly younger than other races/ethnicities. The median age of Latinos is 26, compared to 36
overall and 41 for White, Non-Hispanic.
In the 2017 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey, Hispanic/Latino respondents demonstrated higher levels of overall optimism for the
future than did respondents overall (among other key differences).

3. 3
2015 ESRI Diversity Index, by County
ESRI’s diversity index
provides an estimate of how
likely it is that two people,
selected at random from
the same geographic area,
will belong to different
racial or ethnic groups. An
index value of 0 means an
area exhibits “no diversity”
and 100 means that there is
“complete diversity.”
In the adjacent map,
counties scoring the highest
on the index are shaded in
red. In general, counties
surrounding Georgia’s
major metros score among
the highest in diversity,
especially in metro Atlanta.
Source: ESRI Demographics 2015

4. Foreign Born Population Change by County
2011 to 2016
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS)
2007-2011 and 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates
The metro Atlanta region’s relatively high diversity index score is due, in large part, to the size of our foreign born population.
The chart above shows, by county, the change in foreign born population from 2011 to 2016 with Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton, and
DeKalb experiencing the greatest increases in foreign born population (in absolute numbers) as compared to the rest of the region.
In Cobb County, for example, almost one in four new residents over the time period were born in a different country.
79,370
43,920
88,946
33,899
19,313
15,056
3,401
7,810 9,513
3,266
13,425
10,370 8,470
5,273 2,453 1,232 425 413 6
-1,170-10,000
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
Gwinnett
County
Cobb
County
Fulton
County
DeKalb
County
Cherokee
County
Henry
County
Fayette
County
Douglas
County
Clayton
County
Rockdale
County
NumberofPeople
Change in Total Population, 2011 to 2016 Change in Foreign Born Population, 2011 to 2016

5. Americas
367,120
Asia
233,670
Africa
82,414
Europe
67,800
Oceania
2,503
Foreign Born Population by
Region of Birth
Mexico
164,267
Other Central
America
41,279
Other Caribbean
36,877
Jamaica
32,681
Other South
America
25,537
El Salvador
17,788
Colombia
17,431
Canada
12,819
Brazil
9,170
Cuba
8,570
Other Northern
America
701
Foreign Born Population from Americas by
Country of Birth
As shown in the leftmost pie
chart, nearly 49% of the region’s
foreign born population is from
the “Americas.”
The pie chart to the right breaks
down the foreign born
population from the Americas by
country. Hispanic countries –
such as Mexico, El Salvador, and
other Central and South
American countries, make up
the majority of the region’s
foreign born population.
Foreign Born Population by Origin
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS)
2012-2016 5-Year Estimates

6. Georgia has THE HIGHEST
Hispanic/Latino Growth Rate
Given that a high proportion of
the metro Atlanta region’s
foreign born population comes
from Hispanic countries, then it
may not be surprising that
Georgia has the highest
Hispanic/Latino growth rate.
While 10th by absolute number,
Georgia was 1st in percent
change in the Hispanic/Latino
population from 2000 to 2015,
which grew at a rate of over
118%.
Source: Pew Research Center

7. Hispanic/Latino Population Growth the Fastest
Metro Atlanta’s Hispanic/Latino population growth mirrors that of the state. From 2000 to 2010, Metro Atlanta
increased its Hispanic/Latino population over 100%.
Source: National Equity Atlas

8. 29.9%
31.9%
37.3%
46.3%
47.0%
47.8%
48.7%
53.3%
62.7%
71.8%
6.5%
19.9%
16.8%
24.6%
15.7%
15.2%
32.7%
16.5%
20.3%
7.0%
15.1%
2.4%
7.3%
10.0%
10.6%
6.0%
5.4%
6.2%
5.6%
7.3%
45.5%
43.9%
36.7%
15.6%
24.3%
28.6%
10.7%
22.1%
9.1%
10.6%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
LA
Miami
Houston
Washington
NYC
Dallas
Atlanta
Chicago
Philadelphia
Boston
White Black American Indian/Alaska Native Asian Pacific Islander Other Multiple Races Hispanic (Any Race)
2015 Race & Ethnicity
Looking at race &
ethnicity for top metros,
the Atlanta Metropolitan
Statistical Area (MSA) is
majority-minority, with
Hispanics (of any race),
comprising 10.7% of the
region’s population in
2015.
Source: ESRI Demographics

9. Metro Total Population, Hispanic/Latino, 2016
San Antonio 55.1%
Riverside 50.5%
Los Angeles 45.1%
Miami 44.4%
Houston 36.8%
San Diego 33.5%
Las Vegas 30.9%
Phoenix 30.6%
Orlando 29.5%
Dallas 28.6%
New York 24.3%
Denver 22.9%
Chicago 22.1%
San Francisco 21.9%
Sacramento 21.4%
Tampa 18.6%
Washington 15.5%
Portland 11.7%
Boston 10.8%
Atlanta 10.5%
Charlotte 9.9%
Seattle 9.9%
Philadelphia 9.2%
Kansas City, MO 8.9%
Minneapolis 5.7%
Hispanic/Latino Population,
By the Numbers: % Hispanic
Among major U.S. metros, the Atlanta
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranks
20th in the size of the Hispanic/Latino
population, with 10.5% of total population
identifying as Hispanic/Latino.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS)
2012-2016 5-Year Estimates

10. Change in Race & Ethnicity
by County (2015-2040)
ARC’s adopted forecasts show
continued gains in the Hispanic
population through 2040,
especially in core metro
counties (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb,
Fulton, and Gwinnett). However,
it’s not just the metro core that is
seeing a boom in its Hispanic
population…
Source: ARC Forecasts, series 15

11. County 2016 Hispanic/Latino Population*
Gwinnett 189,050
Cobb 96,263
Fulton 74,853
DeKalb 63,287
Hall 55,074
Clayton 36,372
Whitfield 35,975
Cherokee 24,274
Forsyth 20,613
Chatham 18,300
Georgia: 972,698
Hispanic/Latino Population, By the Numbers:
Total Population
As expected, the core metro Atlanta counties have the highest numbers of Hispanic/Latino residents; however, the Hispanic/Latino
population is reaching further into the outer-lying counties of the Atlanta metro, as well as growing among Georgia’s other major metros.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Estimates

12. County % Change, 2013 – 2016:
Hispanic/Latino Population
Stewart 34%
Effingham 33%
Columbia 25.5%
Bryan 23.1%
Madison 22.2%
Barrow 21.5%
Paulding 20.1%
Newton 19.4%
Oconee 18.9%
Walton 18.2%
Hispanic/Latino Population, By the Numbers:
Percent Population Change
(*Among Counties with at least 1,000 Hispanic/Latino Population)
Georgia: 7.5%
This map, and the adjacent table, further
highlight the growth of the Hispanic/Latino
population into the periphery of Georgia’s
major metros – not only Atlanta – but
Athens, Augusta, Columbus, and Savannah.
The largest percentage change in the
Hispanic/Latino population* occurred in
Stewart County, (just south of the Columbus
MSA) which experienced a 34% growth in
the Hispanic/Latino population from 2013
to 2016. By comparison, the Hispanic/Latino
population grew by just 7.5% in the state
during the same time period.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Estimates

13. U.S Born Latinos Driving Growth Recently
Over the last 15 years, Hispanic/Latino population growth is primarily due to a rise in U.S. born Hispanics/Latinos, as opposed to
prior decades, when immigration was the primary driver of growth among the Hispanic/Latino population.
Source: National Equity Atlas

14. 0.1% - 2.2%
2.2% - 3.9%
3.9% - 5.6%
5.6% - 9.4%
9.4% - 33.5%
1980 1990 2000 2010
The maps above show the growth pattern of the Hispanic/Latino population (by county) from 1980 to 2010. In 1980, the
Hispanic/Latino population was concentrated in and around the state’s military bases – Fort Benning (Chattahoochee
County) and Fort Stewart (Liberty County). However, beginning in the 1990s, the Hispanic/Latino population began to migrate
to the other major metros in the state. By 2010, the Hispanic/Latino population makes up over 2% of the population in the
majority of the counties of the state, with many counties over 5% Hispanic/Latino, and a few approaching 30% or more.
Whitfield County, the global leader in the carpet industry, has the highest concentration of Hispanics/Latinos currently, with
Hispanics/Latinos making up 33.5% of the total population.
Percent Hispanic/Latino Population, by County,
1980-2010
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010

15. 0.1% - 2.2%
2.2% - 3.9%
3.9% - 5.6%
5.6% - 9.4%
9.4% - 33.5%
In 2016, the percentage of the
Hispanic/Latino population increased
significantly compared to prior decades,
with nearly all counties having a
Hispanic/Latino population over 2%.
Similar to 2010, the highest
concentrations of Hispanics/Latinos are
found in and around the major metros,
and along the southeastern and coastal
regions of the state.
Percent Hispanic/Latino Population, by County, 2016
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS)
2012-2016 5-Year Estimates

16. Metro Atlanta: Current Distribution of
Hispanic/Latino Populations
0% < 2.9%
2.9% < 5.1%
5.1% < 8.3%
8.3% < 15.4%
15.4% < 88.1%
The adjacent map shows
Hispanic/Latino population distribution
by neighborhood (census tract) for the
metro area.
Orange, red, and brown shades indicate
the areas of highest concentration of
the Hispanic/Latino population –
primarily found in tracts in
northeastern counties (Gwinnett,
Barrow, Hall, Forsyth), north Fulton, and
Cobb counties.
The heaviest concentrations of
Hispanics/Latinos are found in
suburban town centers throughout the
region, in places like Canton and
Cartersville to the north, and Griffin and
Newnan to the south.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS)
2012-2016 5-Year Estimates

17. Metro Atlanta: Areas With Greatest Increases in
Hispanic/Latino Populations
Similar to the prior slide, the adjacent map
shows how Hispanic/Latino population
distribution has changed since 2000, by
census tract for the metro area.
Highlighted areas on this map are those that
experienced at least an 8.1 percentage-
point increase in the share of Latino
population since 2000.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS)
2012-2016 5-Year Estimates

18. Hispanic/Latinos are Younger
How does this growth among the Hispanic/Latino population affect the metro region? Well, for starters, metro Atlanta
Hispanics/Latinos are younger – with a median age of just 26, well below the median age of the region as a whole. With youth,
comes different needs, concerns, and goals, potentially impacting service delivery and future planning and policy decisions.
Source: National Equity Atlas

19. Biggest Problem Facing the Region?
27.2%
16.9%
11.5%
9.3%
9.2%
5.4%
4.9%
4.6%
6.2%
4.9%
Transportation
Crime
Public Education
Human Services
Economy
Public Health
Taxes
Race Relations
Other
DK
The Metro Atlanta Speaks (MAS) survey,
now in its fifth year, allows us to better
understand differences in perceptions and
concerns among metro region residents.
For the overall population of metro
Atlanta in the 2017 edition of MAS,
respondents felt the biggest problem
facing the region was transportation. The
second and third biggest problems
identified were Crime and Public
Education.
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey

20. 25.8%
14.7%
12.7%
12.5%
8.9%
7.4%
5.7%
5.7%
4.8%
1.8%
Transportation
Human Services
Public Health
Public Education
Crime
Taxes
Race Relations
Economy
Other
DK
Biggest Problem Facing the Region, if you are
Hispanic/Latino
Due to the sample size of MAS, we can
break own overall responses to look at
what various segments of the population
think – by age, region, race/ethnicity, etc.
Among the Hispanic/Latino population of
metro Atlanta, respondents felt the
biggest problem facing the region was
transportation – the same answer given
by respondents as a whole. What is more
revealing are the second and third biggest
problems identified – Human Services
and Public Health (as compared to Crime
and Public Education for the population
as a whole).
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey

21. Would you be willing to pay more in taxes to expand
public transit, including buses and rail?
13.9%
37.0%27.1%
20.6% 18.9%
45.0%
18.6%
17.1%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Overall Hispanic/Latino
Given that over a quarter of the metro Atlanta Hispanic/Latino respondents viewed transportation as the region’s largest problem, it
should come as no surprise that the majority of respondents would also be willing to pay more taxes to expand public transit. In fact,
nearly two-thirds (63.9%) of the Hispanic/Latino population agrees or strongly agrees that they would be willing to pay more in taxes
to expand public transit, as compared to 50.9% overall.
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey

22. 8.0% 5.5%
18.7%
27.8%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
50.0%
All respondents Hispanic/Latino
Strongly Agree Agree
“I Frequently Lack Transportation to Get to Places I
Need to Go...”
Perhaps one of the reasons that
Hispanic/Latino respondents
were willing to pay more in taxes
to fund public transit is because
one-third of the Hispanic/Latino
respondents felt that they
frequently lacked transportation
to get to places that they needed
to go.
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey

23. 3.8% 6.4%
28.7%
36.5%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
All respondents Hispanic/Latino
Excellent Good
Views of Public Education in metro Atlanta overall?
Though Hispanic/Latino
respondents identified public
education among the top five
largest problems in the region,
they hold a better perception of
the quality of public education in
the metro, with 42.9% viewing
public education as “excellent”
or “good”, compared to just
32.5% of respondents overall.
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey

24. 11.1%
21.6%
38.8%
37.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
All respondents Hispanic/Latino
Excellent Good
Rate metro Atlanta as place to raise kids?
Additionally, nearly 60% of
Hispanic/Latino respondents
rated the metro as an
“excellent” or “good” place to
rate kids, compared to about
50% of respondents overall.
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey

25. 29.6%
46.7%
26.0%
14.9%
42.3%
36.3%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
All respondents
Hispanic/Latino
Better in 3-4 years Worse in 3-4 years About the same DK
Optimism for the future?
And, keeping with the trend of the prior two slides, Hispanic/Latino respondents also had more optimism for the future, with nearly
half (46.7%) of Hispanic/Latino respondents believing that the state of the region will be “better in 3-4 years.”
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks 2017 Survey