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Tomorrow, Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya will ask the Board of County Commissioners to sign a resolution celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Each year, from September 15 to October 15, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the economic, cultural, and social contributions of the more than 47 million Latinos residing in the U.S. “As a Hispanic American, I am grateful for the opportunities living in this country affords me,” said Commissioner Montoya, “Every generation that grows up in the United States takes another step towards reaching our full potential of contribution to this country and the world.” The dates of Hispanic Heritage Month were selected to include the Independence Day celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile, as well as to incorporate Día de la Raza—a holiday celebrated in Mexico on October 12 observing the colonization, exploration, and multicultural heritage of the Americas.

Hispanic in America: Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes up the U.S. Hispanic population?
Hispanics are an ethnically and racially diverse population. The Latino population on the U.S. mainland is composed of Mexican Americans (64%), Puerto Ricans (9%), Cubans (3.5%), Salvadorans (3%), and Dominicans (2.7%). The remainder are of some other Central American, South American, or other Hispanic or Latino origins (17.8%).

What terms are used to describe the U.S. Hispanic population?
The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are used interchangeably by the U.S. Census Bureau to refer to persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, Dominican, Spanish, and other Hispanic descent; they may be of any race. Some segments of the population also use the term “La Raza” which has its origins in early 20th century Latin American literature and translates into English most closely as “the people,” or, according to some scholars, “the Hispanic people of the New World.” The term was coined by Mexican scholar José Vasconcelos to reflect the fact that the people of Latin America are a mixture of many of the world’s races, cultures, and religions. Some people have mistranslated “La Raza” to mean “the race,” implying that it is a term meant to exclude others. In fact, the full term coined by Vasconcelos, “La Raza Cósmica,” meaning the “cosmic people,” was developed to reflect not purity but the mixture inherent in the Hispanic people. This is an inclusive concept, meaning that Hispanics share with all other peoples of the world a common heritage and destiny.

How large is the Latino population?
The Hispanic population is the largest ethnic minority in the country. As of July 1, 2006, the estimated Hispanic population in the U.S. was 44.3 million, constituting 15% of the nation’s total population. (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.)

Are most Latinos immigrants?
In 2006, approximately 61% of Hispanics were foreign-born. While nearly two-thirds of Latinos are foreign-born, the second generation is growing faster than the first. More Latinos are being born in the United States than are immigrating to this country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2005, 88% of Hispanics under age 18 were born in the U.S.

What percentage of the foreign-born population comes from Latin America?
More than half (54%) of the foreign-born population residing in the United States comes from Latin America, equaling 20 million people. Of those, 63.9% were born in Mexico. Other countries of birth that contribute large numbers of Hispanics are Cuba (3.5%), El Salvador (2.9%), Dominican Republic (2.7%), Colombia (1.8%), and Guatemala (1.7%).