Highlights from the First Returns.

• Author: Morand, Joan
• Position: Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

The U.S. Census Bureau delivered to Governor Frank O'Bannon and the leaders of the state legislature the official Census 2000 Redistricting Data File for Indiana on March 9, 2001. These data are among the first released from the census that was conducted on April 1, 2000. The counts will be used to redraw boundaries for federal, state and local legislative districts. The census counts also provide information about the size and composition of the state's population.

Hispanic Population

* As anticipated, the state's Hispanic population has grown substantially, from about 99,000 in 1990 to almost 215,000 in 2000, for growth of 116,000 or 117 percent.

* Only 1.8 percent of Indiana's 1990 population claimed Hispanic ethnicity, while 3.5 percent indicated Hispanic ethnicity on their census forms in 2000.

* Counties showing the largest numeric growth in Hispanic population include Marion, Lake, Elkhart, Allen, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Porter. Together these counties accounted for 70 percent of the state's Hispanic population and for 68 percent of the state's growth in Hispanic population.

* Cass County's Hispanic population skyrocketed, growing from 230 in 1990 to 2,905 in 2000, for a growth rate of over 1,000 percent.

The Race Data

* A small portion of Indiana's population, 1.2 percent responded with more than one race category, a new option in 2000.

* Looking at those who responded to the race question with a single category (98.8 percent of all Hoosiers), growth rates for the race categories were: White (6 percent), Black (18 percent'), Asian (62 percent), American Indian (24 percent).

* In 1990, 90.6 percent of Indiana's population checked the white category for race. In 2000, of those who responded with a single race, 88.6 percent considered their race to be white.

* Growth in the Hispanic population and more rapid growth in minority race categories support the general observation that Indiana has become more racially and ethnically diverse.

* At the same time, population in the minority categories still represents a small portion of the state's population. Although growing rapidly, the Asian population in Indiana represents only 1 percent of the total population.

County Totals

* Hamilton was the fastest growing Indiana county, growing from 109,000 in 1990 to almost 183,000 in 2000, for growth of 74,000 persons or 68 percent. Hamilton's growth outpaced all other Indiana counties, the state as a whole, which grew at 9.7 percent and the...