Census estimates show a changing future

The mid-decade census estimates are in, and they show that Hispanics make up the majority of Houston's young population. According to the findings of the American Community Survey, 55 percent of Houstonians age 15 and younger are Hispanic, while just 17 percent of people age 75 and older are. By contrast, 55 percent of Houstonians over 75 are Anglo.

The numbers aren't a surprise, but UH sociology chairman Nestor Rodriguez told the Chronicle they present a "huge challenge" to local and state leaders:

"These numbers are precisely the future of Texas. But Hispanics and the undocumented can also be a huge resource for the state if it's played out right.

"As a state, we need to really have some major gains in indicators like graduation levels, education attainment, and household income. We need to reflect the diversity in the political arena and corporate boardrooms," Rodriguez said.

Texas isn't doing so well in the education department: 79 percent of students in the state graduate from high school, putting Texas next to last among the 50 states and the District of Columbia (thank goodness for Mississippi, or we'd be dead last). In Houston, an estimated 27.8 percent of people hold a bachelor's degree or higher, placing us 8th among the nation's 15 largest cities.

The survey also showed that 30 percent of Houstonians are foreign-born, and 71 percent of those aren't U.S. citizens. Nationally, immigrants make up 12.4 percent of the population, up from 11.2 percent in 2000.

As for population, the 2005 estimate for Houston is 2,016,582, an increase of 62,951 over the 2000 number. We assume that estimate doesn't include the hurricane evacuees still living here, so it's not clear what will happen with regard to possible new City Council districts.