Immigration to Delaware
Delaware’s foreign-born population more than doubled during the 1990s, increasing by 102 percent. Between 1990 and 2000, Delaware gained 23,000 immigrants, bringing the total number of foreign-born residents in the state to almost 45,000. The increase in the foreign-born population during the 1990s accounted for 19 percent of the state’s overall population increase during the decade and does not include the impact of children born to immigrants. Foreign-born residents now account for six percent of the total state population. Nine percent of Delaware’s population, or about 71,000 people, are immigrants or the children of immigrants.

Immigration to Delaware causes a Shift in the Demographics of the State
A shift caused by immigration and higher birth rates among Hispanics and blacks has caused a majority-minority flip in over 300 counties around the nation. That means whites are now in the minority in nearly one in 10 U.S. counties, according to Census data. Minorities now account for more than 25 percent of Delaware's population. Much of this can be attributed to a 44.4 percent surge in the state's Hispanic population from 2000 to 2006. According to the Census Bureau, Los Angeles County in California, Harris County in Texas, and Miami-Dade County in Florida, has the largest Hispanic populations.

The Hispanic population has been increasing steadily for almost two decades. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. Such an increase affects schools and government services because much of the Hispanic growth comes from younger families. In addition, minorities, in general, tend to have higher fertility rates and larger families. Throughout Delaware, the Hispanic population grew at a faster rate than each county's general population -- fastest in Sussex County, rocketing to nearly 59 percent between 2000 and 2006. From 2000 to 2006, Hispanics represented about 24 percent of all growth in Delaware. This figure is despite the fact that they account for only 6.3 percent of the state's entire population. Most of the Hispanic population is concentrated in New Castle County.

New Castle also serves as an enclave to another immigrant population—Asians. The Asian population in New Castle County, Delaware recently jumped to about 42 percent. The population of blacks grew 16 percent across the state, with growth highest in Kent County. Delaware is one of the more diverse states in the Northeast. Despite this diversity, Hispanics aren't always welcomed with open arms. The simple fact that all native Spanish speakers tend to get lumped together, regardless of their immigration status or what country they come from, only makes things worse. While the percentage of the nonwhite population in both New Castle and Kent counties bumped up between 2000 and 2006, in Sussex County it fell from 17.6 percent to 16.3 percent, due in part to a wave of retirees moving to southern Delaware. Sussex County's white population jumped 16.9 percent 2000-2006 -- higher than the overall state's white population increase of 5.8 percent.

Statistical Numbers on Immigration to Delaware:

• About 55.8% of Delaware's 22,275 foreign-born residents are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• The Census Bureau estimated that in 2002 the foreign-born population of Delaware was about 47,500 persons.
• The three largest groups of immigrants come from France, Germany, and Mexico.