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Census numbers extend Hispanic shift in rural counties

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BY ART HOVEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 - 12:05:41 am CDT

Latest census numbers for Nebraska counties point to rapidly growing Hispanic populations and shrinking populations of non-Hispanics across much of rural Nebraska.

That continuing pattern is quickly evident in looking at 2006 population numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau today for Saline County and others with large meatpacking plants and long traditions of meatpacking employment.

The number of Hispanics in Saline County -- home to Crete, Wilber and the Farmland pork plant in between -- increased by 151.2 percent between 2000 through 2006, according to the figures.

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Crete Mayor Tom Crisman, who works at Farmland, isn’t surprised.

“I wouldn’t know what the exact figures would be, but, yeah, the Hispanic population has grown,” Crisman said.

On the flip side of Hispanic growth in major meatpacking counties, the non-Hispanic population is declining, from as little as 2 percent downward in Hall County and the Grand Island area, to as much as 12.5 percent in Colfax County and the Schuyler area.

Even in Lancaster and Douglas counties, home to the state’s two largest cities, the Hispanic population continues to increase at a pace much faster than the non-Hispanic population.

Crisman, 55, thinks he and other longer-term residents of Crete have adjusted reasonably well to a major shift in the town’s ethnic makeup that began to gather speed in the 1990s.

“There will always be some differences, but I think the public attitude is good toward growth here in town.”

Lourdes Gouveia, director of Latino/Latin America Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is less satisfied, from a statewide perspective, with how the Hispanic culture is being accepted. Some of that, she said, is reflected in public policy.

Gouveia, also a UNO sociologist, cited recent workplace raids by federal immigration officials and state government not being willing to issue drivers’ licenses to undocumented residents.

Beyond that, “I’m thinking of south Omaha, what I’m seeing from workers, what I’m hearing from communities,” Gouveia said. “And I think word is getting around that Nebraska is no longer a hospitable place to be.

“And I would put some money on a prediction that this is going to affect migration and it’s going to affect the labor force.”

In looking at the latest census numbers, Gouveia and David Drozd of UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research saw few departures from a bigger pattern in which the Hispanic population of the state has increased by 38 percent since 2000.

“I think, in general, it’s more of what we have seen,” said Drozd.

He called new state-level census numbers released in March “a sneak peek” of today’s county breakdowns, “but now we have specifics.”

Figures for counties with a major meatpacking presence aren’t that different from other rural counties, he said.

In the meatpacking grouping, “it appears there’s somewhat of a divide going on in those communities between the Hispanic and the non-Hispanic. You hear some stories of non-Hispanics moving out for that reason.

“But when you’re looking at more of the non-metro parts of the state, it’s not just areas that are having a Hispanic increase that are having a non-Hispanic decline.”

The tier of Nebraska counties along the Kansas border, for example, is losing population because of out-migration and higher numbers of deaths than births.

Gouveia said evidence of Nebraska’s shift toward a more Hispanic identity is likely to continue, although she expects immigration to be less of a factor.

“I would venture to guess that it’s not growing at the pace of five years ago, for various reasons,” she said. “But what we have is young women of fertile age in a (Hispanic) population that does have a somewhat higher fertility rate now coming of age.”

Drozd said the birth rate in the category of white non-Hispanics has also been increasing since 1997. But the 2005 rate of 65.3 births per thousand persons among females ages 15-44 is well behind the Hispanic rate of about 146 per thousand.

Reach Art Hovey at 523-4949 or at ahovey@alltel.net.


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146 per thousand. wrote on August 9, 2007 1:03 am:
" Wow. Bunny rabbits. "

 Alright!! wrote on August 9, 2007 7:11 am:
" The time is so ever near to where us whites will be the minority and we will be able to get our rights back. After all it would be a racist issue if we couldn't. Yea right. Might have to move back to where my ancestors came from. They recycle there, the police use bikes in the cities and towns to save gas, the crime is lower, and the security is much greater. "

 Mike Honcho wrote on August 9, 2007 8:25 am:
" How, Ms. Gouveia, is acceptance of Hispanic culture related to enforcement of the law? Our officials are supposed to stop arresting and deporting illegal immigrants because doing so demonstrates a lack of cultural acceptance?! I'd heard some doozies in the arguments against enforcing immigration laws, but that's a new one. "

 Nancy wrote on August 9, 2007 8:30 am:
" If anyone really wants to know how these rural communities are doing that have large Hispanic populations, just go to Lexington and see what a dump it has become. It used to be a nice little city. Now it is totally different, not in a good way. The white folks are heading out. "

 Jody P. wrote on August 9, 2007 10:22 am:
" If George Bush was posting here, he might write something like he said yesterday: "I predicted after the comprehensive immigration bill went down to defeat in the Senate there would be blowback. And to start with employers, they're saying, 'Where am I going to get my peach pickers in Georgia or my apple pickers in Washington ...' There's a lot of labor that Americans aren't doing that [is] being done by people who are here and want to work hard for a living." Naturally all the right-wingers would pounce on his post and call him an America-hating liberal who doesn't care about the security of this country. Mr. Bush, if you're out there, feel free to jump in here. "

 JAZZY wrote on August 9, 2007 10:41 am:
" Schuyler is having the same problem. They call it "Little Mexico". Used to be great little town to settle down in...not anymore. "

 jerry wrote on August 9, 2007 11:05 am:
" Just got back from a trip to the gulf coast. All the state I traveled through are putting laws in place about non-legal immigrants getting social services and jobs. I live in a state that is doing the same. Nebraska needs to get with in and quit worrying about the loss of workers. Who did these jobs before hispanics? Legal workers. Meat packing used to be a good paying job until these companys found cheap labor. I heard years ago that the folks in lexington were moving because they couldn't afford to support the school with having to hire bi lingal teachers. They may provide cheap labor for industry but bankrupt the town as much of their money is send weekly to mexico. Stand in a grocery store on friday and saturday and see all the western unions going out. We need to get our country back!!!!!!!!!! "

 ks wrote on August 9, 2007 11:15 am:
" And what?Brown is better.Case closed. "

 i have big hair wrote on August 9, 2007 11:37 am:
" Nancy, that is an awful bold statement to make about Lexington being a dump. As a matter of fact, I take offense to it. By what measure can you say that this community has changed in a bad way? And how are you the foremost authority on knowing “how these rural communities are doing?” My guess is that you’re just spewing popular opinion - maybe something you and the girls talked about while you’re getting your hair pinned up at the beauty shop. Despite your meager understanding of what makes a community VITAL (or less dumpy and more nice or cute), I’d like to educate you. A community’s vitality depends on the Social, Economic, and Environmental welfare. Increasing social capacity in a community can be as simple educating small business owners to something as difficult as breaking down barriers of culture and learning that we all have a unique perspective that is molded by time, place, and our own lived experiences. Economic vitality can easily be measured by the amount of revenue and income to the community. Economic hardships in communities are well known and are not specific to communities in Nebraska. Community developers go through pain staking work to receive grant monies. The environmental health of a community is equally important. Local, state, and federal organizations exist primarily to protect the environment that surrounds us and our communities. The most important thing for you to realize from this lesson is that the social, economic, and environmental health of a community is all INTERCONNECTED. To illustrate how attractive Lexington can be... --For every $1 in local government investment, Dawson Area Developers has yielded $118.67 of investment in Dawson County. -- In 2006 DAD received $3.2 million in grants for various housing, community development, tourism, youth retention, and economic development projects within the county. -- These investments, whether used for renovations, new construction or technological developments, also impact the county's job situation. During 2007 the first Dawson County EDGE program was completed with 31 participants desiring to start or expand small businesses in Dawson County, said Wolfe. "We have reviewed the EDGE evaluations and those participating estimated they will create 28 new jobs with $14 million in investments in the county.” From: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18676455&BRD=284&PAG=461&dept_id=558509&rfi=6 8-9-07 I see chose to see the world with un-jaded eyes. I see PROGRESS – not deterioration. "

 Joe wrote on August 9, 2007 11:48 am:
" I agree with you Mike. I remember seeing a Time magazine about 8 or 10 years ago that had a front cover that the main headline said "Welcome to Amexica", looks like that prediction is coming true. The more we let illegal immigrants coming so easily from Mexico just stay here without sending them back the more they will still keep coming. "

 rac wrote on August 9, 2007 12:13 pm:
" Yeah, check out Scottsbluff/Gering too... "

 david wrote on August 9, 2007 12:25 pm:
" If anyone had doubt that hate still existed in America, look at some of the comments above. Wow. "

 Lindsay wrote on August 9, 2007 12:54 pm:
" Nancy you can't apply Lexington to every other meatpacking town. I'm from Saline County, and Crete and Wilber continue to be nice communities to live in. Then again instead of leaving most people stick around and try to work on making the community a good place for everyone to live. Furthermore, a town like Crete has had the advantage of having a college - therefore a more educated population and a close proximity to jobs in Lincoln. You can also argue that IBP is known for their poor treatment of employees as well, and I believe that factory there has done a lot to reduce the quality of living. However, I agree that Ms. Gouveia is crossing a line by in essence saying that in order for Nebraska to be a friendly place to live we must give out licenses rather freely. "

 Disgusted wrote on August 9, 2007 1:03 pm:
" Not even when i lived in NYC, which obviously has much more racial diversity than Lincoln, have people been so ignorant and unwelcoming to foreigners. This article was just talking about a trend in population and automatically people have to start commenting negatively. Just a few days ago there was another article about Iraqi's seeking refuge in NE. People immediately started talking negatively about those people without even personally knowing them just because they're from Iraq. But God forbid, later on, some nobody who works for the LA Times makes wrong assumptions about people from NE and those same good ol' Nebraskans get all worked up about it. Its sad that so many people in this town are so hypocritical, intolerant, and ignorant. "

 Nina wrote on August 9, 2007 1:53 pm:
" So at least in rural Nebraska, the theory that Hispanics' immigration is not needed to take up a labor slack is false. With otherwise shrinking populations, factory production cannot take place in these areas without the help of the Hispanics. But I expect many of the locals to accept the newcomers with as much welcome as their own ancestors were once given by the Pawnee, Oto, Lakota, etc: 'Hey, they're different from us, and they don't belong here.' "

 Sean! wrote on August 9, 2007 1:56 pm:
" Welcome to Nebraxico! Se habla Espanol Gringo? "

 Roark wrote on August 9, 2007 4:06 pm:
" Let's face it, xenophobia and bigotry is alive and well in Nebraska. No wonder we have a reputation for being backwards. "

 Correct Term wrote on August 9, 2007 4:14 pm:
" People often use the term "hispanic" when they really mean "mestizo", some mix of caucasian and amerindian. "

 Okie wrote on August 9, 2007 4:37 pm:
" Apparently, the only growth in rural Nebraska comes from the Hispanic population. However, does anyone here have any valid suggestions for increasing population in rural Nebraska? Not even your young remain in the state. "

 Terry wrote on August 9, 2007 4:47 pm:
" They'll let anyone in the country anymore.... whether you are illegal or not. In a few generations whites will be the minority so we might as well get used to it. "

 Cathie wrote on August 9, 2007 5:57 pm:
" Nebraskans need to get rid of Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson and vote in people who will support the closure of the borders and deportation of illegal aliens. Or America will end up like California. "

 Race is not the issue... wrote on August 9, 2007 6:20 pm:
" Race is not the reason people are leaving, it is the crime and grime that come with the ILLegal "

 Larry wrote on August 9, 2007 6:25 pm:
" It is much better to have the Hispanic people in places like Nebraska (if they are legal) then to have them sitting in enclaves on the Texas border or in huge Hispanic only neighborhoods such as those in Los Angeles where there is only some adaptation to the way of the U.S. One hopes that Nebraska's first generation Hispanic children will enroll at one of the Nebraska universities or colleges and marry some guy or gal named Williams, Vandermeer, Kim or Demuth. They are lovely people, work hard, their families stay intact and quite honestly, would give you some of the loveliest looking grandchildren, should you be privileged enough to join your family with an Hispanic family. And of course, they would make great Husker fans. "

 Ryan wrote on August 9, 2007 9:59 pm:
" I'm ashamed that so many of these comments in here are nothing more than racism. Nebraska is going to lose the battle when it closes itself off so much to anything other than "normal." "

 Des wrote on August 9, 2007 11:31 pm:
" Well, for years I heard that trying to hold onto some of my German ancestry was wrong because I was in America and besides, I was white, who the hell was I to want to value my German roots or the towns that had remnants of German culture. I was to embrace the world and every sub-culture out there. Now there are some Nebraskans commenting that we are a little upset to see our cultures subsumed and they are called "intolerant", "bigoted", "racist". Ah, it always amuses me how quickly people run behind the curtain of "You're a racist!" in order to avoid a debate. As to all of the jobs out there that "Americans won't do", why should they when they get welfare and pandering not to work? Get the able minded and able bodied people off of welfare and social benefits and they will flock to those jobs as market forces are returned. As for myself, if they are legal immigrants, I say welcome. But yes, I do feel a touch of resentment at the illegals and at those who will not even try to learn the language. "

 D wrote on August 10, 2007 4:36 am:
" Commmunistic attitude of living off the the other taxpayers is the issue. Check out medicaid and medicare expenses for Saline County as the population shift unfolds. By the way who said shrinking population in rural areas is a bad deal? I'd rather live alone in the sandhills with coyotes and raqcoons as neighbors compared to illegal immigrants with communistic attitudes. Let's get more factories, more pollution, more people, more problems, and more taxes. Now that is progress, isn't it? And before the other bloggers want to whip me for being backward, ignorant, predjudice, and anti-progress, drive to Crete, Lexington, or Schuyler and take a hard look at the community of a "progressive" meat packing plant. Simply put, the immigrants are this countries 21st century plantation slaves, paid with slave labor plus government services subsidy. Sounds like a great wage base to finance the growth of a community. Even then a sizable portion of the earned money goes out of the US to finance living conditions in Mexico and farther south. In my lifetime it appears this communistic attitude will become the majority of voters and the American dream of self sufficiency will become the Mexican Dream of bigger government. I give freely to charity but I certainly dislike forced giving through taxation. In that regard I guess I am much like my adopted ancestors who founded this nation. "

 Disgusted wrote on August 10, 2007 7:40 am:
" I am appalled at some of the comments that I have seen on here. How is it that we can be the friendliest state when it comes to football, but bring in a few people who look different then us or speak a different language and they are to fault for all the wrong in Nebraska. As a teacher I want to instill in my students acceptance of everyone, something that is a lot harder then it should be thanks to ignorant parents. My Hispanic parents are among my most concerned and caring parents. Their children have a respect for authority that I do not get from a lot of "white" children. Hispanic families do not take the things that they have for granted. They are grateful for an education, and believe in hard work. Things that "good old Nebraskans" used to believe in. The next time you want to criticize someone based on where they come from stop and take a look at yourself, and see if there is something you can do to make the situation better. "

 Dave wrote on August 10, 2007 7:45 am:
" Gee,I hate it when people throw out the race card,Can't others be concern about their country being over run by illegal aliens without be called a racist? I love this country and I'm sick of no one stopping them at our Southern border and yes I say the Southern border because that's where most of the illegals come across,I'm also sick of Hispanic Americans defending the illegal aliens,Ms Gouveia comments about being less satisfied with the Government enforcing Federal law and state Government not being willing to issue a drivers licenses to illegal aliens is out of line.The Law is the Law,what does she want the those Governments do close their eyes? "

 Tax Base wrote on August 10, 2007 8:48 am:
" "The tier of Nebraska counties along the Kansas border, for example, is losing population because of out-migration and higher numbers of deaths than births." No where to earn a living, tax base is depleted due to all the old folks, I wish I could get out who is going to buy my house? At least these folks are going to help those places from the same fate as us. "

 k wrote on August 10, 2007 11:21 am:
" My grandfather, who happened to be of german descent, was called insulting names in his small town during the second world war. He went on to become mayor and a successful businessman. Sometimes change and acceptance takes a generation. "

 Matteo wrote on August 10, 2007 11:47 am:
" Viva la Nebraska! Ye Ha! "

 Cathie wrote on August 10, 2007 11:52 am:
" You Nebraskans, that defend illegal aliens, sound like Californians did twenty years ago. Now our illegal aliens population has quadulpled, schools are over run, welfare is streached to the limit, hosiptals are closing because they can't carry the non-payment of bills by illegals. This is all documented. Taxes have tripled for working peaple. Our National parks are being destroyed because they don't respect the land, I go to the National parks here all the time and see illegals throwing trash every where. I went to Boydens Cave two weeks ago in the Sequoia NP and a group of illegals kept touching the walls after the guide had said at least 5 times not to. Mexican Americans in the group were just as unhappy as white Americans at there behavior. This is not an isolated incidence it happens all the time. So do yourselves a favor and vote for electd officials that want to rid Nebraska of illegal aliens. "

 Joe wrote on August 11, 2007 1:31 pm:
" War driven immigration (or asylum) is much different than today's illegal immigration. The larger number of old and new immigrants in the 20th century did everything possible to assimilate in American culture (changing their names, becoming educated, and learning ENGLISH). Cathie is correct; if the gov't, at all levels doesn't fix this issue, we're in trouble. The only beneficiaries now are business people who use illegals with low wage, dead end jobs. "

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