Regional Minority Owned Businesses from the 2012 Survey of Business Owners

The 2012 Census of Business Owners includes data on minority owned businesses. Table SB1200CSA01: Statistics for Firms by Industry, Gender, Ethnicity and Race, provide a plethora of data about these firms, some of which I have tried to capture below. Visit American Fact Finder at the Census Bureau and see what other data exists for these businesses !

The graphics below are based on regional data - meaning the two counties combined.

Changes in Median Age For White and Minority Populations

Over the last decade our median age in the region has risen, having gone from 39.7 years of age 10 years ago to 42.1 in 2014. Much of this is driven by an aging white, non-Hispanic population. Among whites, the median age over the period from 2005 to 2014 rose from 40.7 to 44.8 years of age. Conversely, the minority population (meaning anyone who is not white, Non-Hispanic) has actually gotten younger over the past 10 years. Among minorities, the median age has dropped from 28.7 years of age to 26.2. As this portion of our population grows (minorities now make up about 15% of our population compared to 10% a decade ago) this younger influence will probably begin to influence our median age statistics.

The graph below shows you how these two populations' median ages have changed in our area between 2005 to 2014. Click to enlarge the graphic.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Changes in Minority Population: Rome

Yesterday I posted some maps showing changes in minority population for the Greater Utica Area. Today I have maps focusing on the same thing for the City of Rome. All of these maps can be found on our MAPS page. Remember that "minority" is a term used by demographers that identifies any population that is not white and non-Hispanic.

City of Rome Minority Population 1990  (Click to Enlarge)

City of Rome Minority Population 2000  (Click to Enlarge)

City of Rome Minority Population 2010  (Click to Enlarge)

Measuring Changes in Racial Composition Over Time: Pre and Post Census 2000

Part of the American landscape is our changing racial composition. The Census Bureau collects race data in accordance with guidelines provided by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. These data are based on self-identification. The racial categories included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country, and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically or genetically. In census questionnaires prior to the Census 2000, people were only allowed to select a single racial identification. As of the Census 2000, people could pick any number of racial identifiers, such as “American Indian” and “White.” People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may also be of any race. Hence comparing pre-Census 2000 to post-Census 2000 race data is generally discouraged given the vastly different measurement processes being used.

The U.S. Census Bureau adheres to the Office of Management and Budget standards on race and ethnicity which guide the Census Bureau in classifying written responses to the race question as follows:

• White – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
• Black or African American – A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. 
• American Indian or Alaska Native – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
• Asian – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

So despite the drastic change in how race was self-defined in the pre- and post- Census 2000 world, I do offer the following glimpse into what this has shown us for changes in minority population composition, in this case for the Greater Utica area. Below are three maps that show block group level minority data for the 1990, 2000, and 2010 censuses. Minority is a term used by demographers that identifies any population that is not white and non-Hispanic. Note the changes you can see between the 1990 and 2000 censuses particularly, since that was the period when the self-definitional process changed. I will post similar maps for the Greater Rome area in the future, and these maps are available on our MAPS page as well.

1990 Minority Population Greater Utica Area (Click to Enlarge)

2000 Minority Population Greater Utica Area (Click to Enlarge)

2010 Minority Population Greater Utica Area (Click to Enlarge)

Asian American Federation Report: Asian Americans of the Empire State

Asian Americans of the Empire State: Growing Diversity and Common Needs is a detailed examination of the Asian American communities of our state published through the Asian American Foundation. New York has seen dramatic demographic changes in the Asian American population during the last decade. The report summarizes the population changes between 2000 and 2010 Censuses for the Asian population as a whole, as well as for Asian ethnic groups. Emerging Asian communities (both ethnically and geographically) are highlighted. 

The report also examines the demographic and socioeconomic data for several key geographic areas: the suburban counties that are part of the New York City metro area, and the upstate counties with the largest Asian populations. 

Among these upstate counties is a review of Oneida County's Asian population, covered on pages 45 to 52 of the report.  Major conclusions about Oneida County's Asian population include:

• The Asian population in Oneida County doubled in size, largely due to the influx of Burmese refugees in the last decade.
• Many of these new refugees settled in Utica and faced language, education, and job challenges as they seek to adjust to their new homes.
• Major socioeconomic differences exist between Asians living in Utica and suburban Asians, with Asians in Utica facing higher rates of poverty, lower educational attainment, and language barriers compared to their suburban counterparts.
• Asians in Oneida County had the highest poverty rates compared to Asians in all other geographic areas examined in this report.
•  Asians in Oneida County had the highest percentage of adults age 25 and older who had not completed high school compared to Asians in all other geographic areas examined in this report

To see a copy of the complete report, download it here from the Asian American Foundation website.

Minority Distribution Maps

Minority population distributions have changed over time, partly because we have seen a growth in minority inflow to the region, and partly because of changes in race category definitions within the Census.

These 3 maps show the changes between the 1990, 2000, and 2010 censuses for the City of Utica and the surrounding area.

1990 Minority Distribution

2000 Minority Distribution

2010 Minority Distribution

Several things should be noted:

1. Between 1990 and 2000 the Census changed how it recorded race data. No longer were people restricted to a single race category, but could select multiple races.
2. Note how concentrated the areas with at least 25% of the population being of minority background was in the center of Utica. By 2000 the area had grown substantially to a large area surrounding that same core; by 2010 the minority population had expanded considerably into the West Utica neighborhoods.
3. North Utica sees considerable minority growth in 2000; South Utica sees it's minority populations expand particularly in the last decade.