Hispanic growth in N.Va. led by Salvadorans, South Americans
The growth of Northern Virginia's Hispanic population in the past decade has been driven by an expansion of immigrants from El Salvador and an influx of South Americans to the Washington suburbs, census data show. Three out of five of Virginia's new Salvadoran residents over the past decade live in Fairfax or Prince William counties. Growth in Fairfax -- traditionally a mixing bowl -- has been overshadowed by the explosion in Prince William, where the Salvadoran population grew more than six times over in 10 years.
The South American population's growth in the past decade has mostly been concentrated in Fairfax County. Across Northern Virginia, Bolivians and Peruvians make up the most common South American nationalities in most jurisdictions.
Experts said immigrants traditionally head to where they know their families or friends have gone before them. That's why pockets tend to sprout up and grow in certain neighborhoods.
Arlington County, which has been growing less diverse over the decade, remains home to Northern Virginia's second-largest Bolivian population -- roughly 4,000 people -- for that reason.
"My uncle used to live in Arlington," Marco Antonio Vallejo, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2002. "When I came [to Arlington] it was because a large population of Bolivians were living there."
But while Fairfax County has long been Northern Virginia's melting pot, Prince William County has become its closest competitor in the past decade, especially in its Salvadoran growth, which accounts for 43 percent of the county's Hispanic population increase. But the growth spurt triggered anti-immigration legislation in 2007 that some believe has curtailed the growth in recent years.
A Pew Hispanic Center report released last year concluded illegal immigration in the county has slowed because of legislation allowing officers to ask about a detainee's legal status.
"I suspect the Hispanic population was higher [before the new laws] and it shifted back into Fairfax and other jurisdictions," said Larry Shinagawa, an American Studies professor at the University of Maryland.
Data on Maryland's Hispanic growth is scheduled to be released by the Census Bureau next week.
While Shinagawa expects the Hispanic population to rev back up in Prince William, others have their doubts.
"It's hard to know what the long-term effects of Prince William's policy changes will be," said Audrey Singer, a Brookings Institution demographer. "If there is an indication of slowing growth or decline, we might expect to see the population taper."
The South American population's growth in the past decade has mostly been concentrated in Fairfax County. Across Northern Virginia, Bolivians and Peruvians make up the most common South American nationalities in most jurisdictions.
| Northern Virginia's Hispanic population exploding | ||||||||
| Total | Hispanic/ | Hispanic | Hispanic | Salva- | Number | South | Number | |
| population | Latino | percent | growth* | doran | increase* | Amer. | increase* | |
| Prince William | 400,000 | 81,500 | 20.5% | 198% | 27,300 | +23,100 | 10,700 | +8,300 |
| Fairfax | 1.08m | 168,500 | 15.6% | 58% | 43,600 | +23,500 | 46,000 | +26,400 |
| Loudoun | 312,000 | 38,600 | 12.4% | 282% | 10,500 | +8,900 | 9,600 | +8,000 |
| Arlington | 208,000 | 31,400 | 15.1% | -11% | 7,000 | -542 | 9,100 | +2,000 |
| Alexandria | 140,000 | 22,500 | 16.1% | 19% | 6,400 | +2,000 | 4,200 | +1,900 |
| Virginia | 8m | 632,000 | 7.9% | 92% | 124,000 | +80,100 | 101,000 | +61,600 |
| *Change over 10 years | ||||||||
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau | ||||||||
Arlington County, which has been growing less diverse over the decade, remains home to Northern Virginia's second-largest Bolivian population -- roughly 4,000 people -- for that reason.
"My uncle used to live in Arlington," Marco Antonio Vallejo, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2002. "When I came [to Arlington] it was because a large population of Bolivians were living there."
But while Fairfax County has long been Northern Virginia's melting pot, Prince William County has become its closest competitor in the past decade, especially in its Salvadoran growth, which accounts for 43 percent of the county's Hispanic population increase. But the growth spurt triggered anti-immigration legislation in 2007 that some believe has curtailed the growth in recent years.
A Pew Hispanic Center report released last year concluded illegal immigration in the county has slowed because of legislation allowing officers to ask about a detainee's legal status.
"I suspect the Hispanic population was higher [before the new laws] and it shifted back into Fairfax and other jurisdictions," said Larry Shinagawa, an American Studies professor at the University of Maryland.
Data on Maryland's Hispanic growth is scheduled to be released by the Census Bureau next week.
While Shinagawa expects the Hispanic population to rev back up in Prince William, others have their doubts.
"It's hard to know what the long-term effects of Prince William's policy changes will be," said Audrey Singer, a Brookings Institution demographer. "If there is an indication of slowing growth or decline, we might expect to see the population taper."
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