The population of San Antonio grew from 786,023 in 1980 to 935,933 in 1990, according to the national census. By 1998 the population had reached 1,114,130. In the years between official censuses the San Antonio metropolitan area grew from 1,071,954 to 1,302,099. By 1995 the population had reached an estimated 1,460,809. According to the census, whites are 72.3 percent of the population, blacks 7.0 percent, Asians and Pacific Islanders 1.1 percent, and Native Americans 0.4 percent. The remainder are of mixed heritage or did not report ethnicity. San Antonio is distinctive for its large number of residents with Hispanic heritage, composing 56 percent of the population in the city and 48 percent of the metropolitan region. Hispanic is considered by the census to be a linguistic and cultural distinction rather than a racial category and Hispanics can therefore be of any race; in San Antonio most are white.
The Anglo and more affluent minority populations have over the years moved to outlying areas north and east of the downtown, where rolling hills make attractive home sites and retirement developments. San Antonio's population growth can be partially explained by its desirability as a retirement community, with excellent medical facilities and attractive geographic surroundings. But more important, San Antonio serves as a cultural and economic magnet for immigrants from Mexico and the Río Grande Valley, which is predominantly Hispanic in ethnic origin and cultural sensitivities. Since the 1960s rapid population growth in the Río Grande Valley, brought about by increased immigration from Mexico to Texas, has in turn spurred increased settlement in the San Antonio region. Consequently, the city has developed an even stronger Hispanic presence.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. San Antonio Information info
Find out your Home's Value - Homes for Half Price
|
