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State-level changes in US racial and ethnic diversity, 1980 to 2015: A universal trend?

Author

Listed:
  • Barrett Lee

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Michael Martin

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Stephen Matthews

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Chad Farrell

    (University of Alaska Anchorage)

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined long-term changes in ethnoracial diversity for US states despite the potential social, economic, and political ramifications of such changes at the state level. Objective: We describe shifts in diversity magnitude and structure from 1980 through 2015 to determine if states are following identical, parallel, divergent, or convergent paths. Methods: Decennial census data for 1980‒2010 and American Community Survey data for 2015 are used to compute entropy index (E) and Simpson index (S) measures of diversity magnitude based on five panethnic populations. A typology characterizes the racial/ethnic structure of states. Results: While initial diversity level and subsequent pace of change vary widely, every state has increased in diversity magnitude since 1980. A dramatic decline in the number of predominantly white states has been accompanied by the rise of states with multigroup structures that include Hispanics. These diverse states are concentrated along the coasts and across the southern tier of the country. Differences in panethnic population growth (especially rapid Hispanic and Asian growth coupled with white stability) drive the diversification trend. Conclusions: The diversity hierarchy among states has remained relatively stable over the past 35 years in the face of universal gains in diversity magnitude and the increasing heterogeneity of racial/ethnic structures. Contribution: We document ethnoracial diversity patterns at an understudied geographic scale, the state level, where diversity may have important consequences across a range of institutional domains.

Suggested Citation

  • Barrett Lee & Michael Martin & Stephen Matthews & Chad Farrell, 2017. "State-level changes in US racial and ethnic diversity, 1980 to 2015: A universal trend?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 37(33), pages 1031-1048.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:37:y:2017:i:33
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2017.37.33
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. William A. V. Clark & Eva Anderson & John Östh & Bo Malmberg, 2015. "A Multiscalar Analysis of Neighborhood Composition in Los Angeles, 2000–2010: A Location-Based Approach to Segregation and Diversity," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 105(6), pages 1260-1284, November.
    2. Christopher S. Fowler & Barrett A. Lee & Stephen A. Matthews, 2016. "The Contributions of Places to Metropolitan Ethnoracial Diversity and Segregation: Decomposing Change Across Space and Time," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(6), pages 1955-1977, December.
    3. Daniel Lichter, 2013. "Integration or Fragmentation? Racial Diversity and the American Future," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(2), pages 359-391, April.
    4. Barrett Lee & Lauren Hughes, 2015. "Bucking the Trend: Is Ethnoracial Diversity Declining in American Communities?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 34(1), pages 113-139, February.
    5. Kenneth M. Johnson & Daniel T. Lichter, 2008. "Natural Increase: A New Source of Population Growth in Emerging Hispanic Destinations in the United States," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 34(2), pages 327-346, June.
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    United States of America; race/ethnicity; ethnicity; diversity; census data; entropy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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