Minorities (defined as populations other than nonhispanic whites) experienced a much faster growth rate than did nonhispanic whites.   From 2000 to 2008, the population of nonhispanic whites in America increased by 2.0 percent, while minorities increased by 21.8 percent.

Total population growth in metropolitan areas for both nonhispanic whites and minorities outpaced nonmetropolitan areas.  Metropolitan areas saw a 9.2 percent increase in total population, with the nonhispanic white population growing 2.5 percent, and the minority population growing 22.7 percent. Nonmetropolitan areas, however, grew by only 2.5 percent from 2000 to 2008 – a growth of 0.1 percent in nonhispanic whites, and 13.6 percent among minorities.  Among noncore counties, in fact, the minority population grew while the nonhispanic white population declined.

In 2000, minority population (populations other than nonhispanic whites) accounted for 30.5 percent of the total population.  In metro areas, the percentage was 33.2, and in nonmetro areas it was 17.6 percent.  By 2008, the share of minorities increased in all areas.  Minorities accounted for 34.4 percent of the total population, 36.8 percent of the metro population, and 19.3 percent of the nonmetro population.

In 2000, there were 257 counties in which the majority of the population was of minority race and/or ethnicity (the nonhispanic white population less than 50 percent of total).  Of these, 165 or 64 percent were nonmetropolitan counties. 

Click here for a map of minority majority counties, 2000.

By 2008, the number of counties in which minority populations accounted for a majority of total population increased to 309 counties.  Of these, 196 or 63 percent were nonmetropolitan counties.