Reinvigoration of Diversity in Maryland

February 18, 2011

Over the past decade, minorities have become the majority in many states, for Prince George’s County, Maryland, this fact remains true. Prince George’s County’s Hispanic and Latino communities are stimulating the county’s and state’s growth and matching the number of whites for the first time, according to the recent 2010 census numbers.

Facts:

  The 2010 Census figures show Prince George’s County as the second largest jurisdiction in Maryland, with more than 863,000 residents. Additionally, the Hispanic and Latino population, which in 2000 was at 57,000, soared to 129,000 last year. It more than doubled in size from 7 percent to 15 percent. Yet as the number of Hispanic and Latino residents increased, the white population shrunk from 24 percent down to a mere 15 percent today, according to the U.S Census Bureau State and County Population QuickFacts.

How do you feel about it?

For 20 year old Mexican American, Stephanie Gomez this is a positive change for the Hispanic and Latino community. When asked her thoughts on the recent census numbers she replied, “I feel like it’s good because you have a variety of Latin people not just Mexicans but Salvadorians, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Hondurans, & etc. And we all learn from each other. But at the same time it’s a negative side to it because you have some people in gangs making the rest of us look like we are criminals and we all pay for that one's error. You also have some drunks that be harassing people, and being rude to those who walk by which gives a bad image to the rest of the Latinos.”

Outcome:

The county’s growth in the Hispanic and Latino population over the past 10 years has added to the diversity of its communities. With more grocery stores being replaced by international food markets and more predominantly Spanish speaking small business like a ‘tacoria’ becoming an everyday sight, the county has become a place of economic and international change. Yet, this change in growth in the Hispanic and Latino community in the county will certainly have consequences for the governmental and educational system. The Maryland General Assembly will be getting more diverse in the years to come. Particularly in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, which will be picking up a few additional legislative seats, the number of minority delegates could grow substantially.

“Before, my brother and I were some of the only Latinos in the school…Now the schools are majority Latinos around here,” said Gomez, who is a graduate of Bladensburg High School located in Bladensburg, Maryland.

In Hyattsville, one of the largest communities in Prince George’s County, the Latino and Hispanic population there almost doubled, gaining nearly another 3,000 residents as of today. Similarly in Langley Park, another multiethnic and culturally rich city, residency increased from 11,000 in 2000 to around 14,000 people today.

Yet, one thing is for sure. The diversity Prince George’s County, Maryland will only continue to grow and change. And it is up to the individuals of that community to challenge it or embrace it.