Watch CBS News

Hispanic Population Surges In Chicago, New Census Data Shows

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The face of Chicago is changing.

New census statistics show the Hispanic population grew by 17,000 in a one-year period. For the first time, Hispanics are the second-largest ethnic group in the city.

Meanwhile, the African-American population is shrinking, with 42,000 moving out.

CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reports.

In Little Village, it's not hard to spot the influence and heritage. At Dulcelandia, a candy store, sales and the number of customers have increased since the business opened in 1995.

This would seem to reflect new U.S. Census data showing the Hispanic population in Chicago jumping from 786,000 to 803,000 between 2015 and 2016.

This means about 30 percent of the Windy City's population is now of Hispanic or Latino descent.

"It represents an increase in our purchasing power so that helps to better the economic conditions of the area," says Eduardo Rodriguez of Dulcelandia.

Subtracted from Chicago's numbers – more than 42,000 African Americans, who left the city.

Shari Runner of the Chicago Urban League says this trend began about a decade ago. She thinks lack of economic opportunity and crime and high taxes are pushing African Americans out of Chicago.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.