Where are the Asians in the U.S.

by Ray M. Colorado

The top ten states with the highest Asian population are California, New York, Hawaii, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Florida, Virginia, and Massachusetts. This ranking is based on the findings by the US Census Bureau as of April 1, 2000.

The Asian population of these top ten states were: California 4,155,685; New York 1,169,200; Hawaii 703,232; Texas 644,193; New Jersey 524,356; Illinois 473,649; Washington 395,741; Florida 333,013; Virginia 304,559; and Massachusetts 264,814.

Between 1990 and 2000, California had the largest increase in Asian population. The top ten states with the biggest increase within that ten-year period, starting with the highest, were California, New York, Texas, New Jersey, Washington, Illinois, Florida, Hawaii, Virginia, and Georgia.

The increase of Asians in these top ten states, between 1990 and 2000, were California 1,420,625; New York 479,897; Texas 332,275; New Jersey 253,517; Washington 199,823; Illinois 191,080; Florida 183,157; Hawaii 180,265; Virginia 148,523; and Georgia 126,048.

The numbers clearly show a slowing down of Asian population growth in Hawaii and California. In terms of percentage growth, Hawaii and California had the lowest growth rate of 34% and 52%, respectively. Georgia and Florida registered the two highest growth rate at 171% and 122%. Four states doubled their Asian population--Texas 107%, New Jersey 94%, Washington 102%, and Virginia 95%.

It should be noted that although California had an increase rate of only 52%, its Asian population is still bigger than the combined Asian population of New York, Hawaii, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington.

The state of Georgia posted the most impressive growth rate of 171 percent. However, its total Asian population was only 199,812 which is not among the top ten states.

These ten states with the lowest Asian population, starting with the lowest, were: Wyoming, 4,107; North Dakota 4,967; South Dakota 6,009; Vermont 6,622; Montana 7,101; Maine 11,827; Idaho 17,390; New Hampshire 19,219, Mississipi 23,281 and Arkansas 25,401.

It is interesting to note that these ten states with the lowest Asian population had almost the same number of Asians between 1990 and 2000. This is a surprising discovery considering the overall population in these states increased. The average annual increase of Asian population in these ten states was zero percent.

Table 1

Source: US Census Bureau Reports

Table 2

Source: US Census Bureau Reports

Table 3

Source: US Census Bureau Reports

Published 2-20-2004

Copyright 2004 Ray Colorado