Racial Change in the Nation’s Largest Cities: Evidence from the 2000 Census

A new analysis of data from the 2000 Census shows a number of important patterns underlying the increasing diversity in our nation’s largest cities. Non-Hispanic whites now represent less than half the population in the nation’s largest central cities. The Hispanic population is growing rapidly, while the number of Asians and blacks in central cities are also increasing. These demographic changes will affect the social, economic, political, and fiscal character of our cities.