Maine saw substantial growth in its racial diversity during the 1990s, particularly in cities such as Portland.
The number of residents who listed themselves as a race other than white grew by 34 percent between 1990 and 2000, nearly ten times the overall state population increase of 3.8 percent. The state's Hispanic population increased by 34 percent between 1990 and 2000.
| |
Census Snapshots
| |
Census Snapshots is an occasional feature of the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram that offers a look at the demographics of Maine as well as how the state's population compares to the people of other states. It combines data mapping techniques with staff research to provide insight into Maine.
|
Still, Maine's growth rate did not keep pace with even more-rapid expansions of racial minorities nationwide. As a result, Maine now has a greater proportion of white people than any other state in the nation, according to recently released Census data.
Most other states with a high percentage of whites also are thinly populated, rural states. Most share a northern latitude. Eight of the 10 have small populations, and seven of the 10 are in the northern tier of states.
The states with the highest proportion of white people differ widely in land area and growth rates between 1990 and 2000.
However, the predominant minority groups in these states are consistent by region. Asians are the largest minority group in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Blacks comprise the largest minority group in the middle tier of states; West Virginia, Kentucky and Iowa. The largest group in the western states of North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho is American Indian.
| State |
Percent white
|
Next largest
race |
Population
|
Rank
|
Population
growth rate |
| Maine |
96.9 |
Asian
- 0.7 percent |
1,274,923 |
40 |
3.8% |
| Vermont |
96.8 |
Asian
- 0.9 percent |
608,827 |
49 |
8.2% |
| New
Hampshire |
96 |
Asian
- 1.3 percent |
1,235,786 |
41 |
11.4% |
| West Virginia |
95 |
Black
- 3.2 percent |
1,808,344 |
37 |
0.8% |
| Iowa |
93.9 |
Black
- 2.1 percent |
2,926,324 |
30 |
5.4% |
| North
Dakota |
92.4 |
American Indian
- 4.9 percent |
642,200 |
47 |
0.5% |
| Wyoming |
92.1 |
American Indian
- 2.3 percent |
493,782 |
50 |
8.9% |
| Idaho |
91.0 |
American Indian
- 1.4 percent |
1,293,953 |
39 |
28.5% |
| Montana |
90.6 |
American Indian
- 6.2 percent |
902,195 |
44 |
12.9% |
| Kentucky |
90.1 |
Black
- 7.3 percent |
4,041,769 |
25 |
9.7% |
| United States |
75.1 |
Black
- 12.3 percent |
281,421,906 |
|
13.2% |
To top of page
|
