LATINO DIVERISTY... HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!
Diverse Origins: The Nation’s 14 Largest Hispanic-Origin Groups
BY MARK HUGO LOPEZ, ANA GONZALEZ-BARRERA AND DANIELLE CUDDINGTON
BY MARK HUGO LOPEZ, ANA GONZALEZ-BARRERA AND DANIELLE CUDDINGTON
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Overview
The nation’s Latino population is diverse. Represented among the 51.9 million Latinos in the United States are individuals who trace their heritage to more than 20 Spanish-speaking nations worldwide. But one group—Mexicans—dominates the nation’s Latino population. In 2011, nearly two-thirds (64.6%) of U.S. Hispanics, or 33.5 million, traced their family origins to Mexico, according to Pew Research Center tabulations of the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS). By comparison, Puerto Ricans, the nation’s second largest Hispanic-origin group, number about 5 million and make up 9.5% of the total Hispanic population in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.1 Following Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are Salvadorans, Cubans,2 Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Spaniards, Hondurans, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans and Argentineans. Together these 14 groups make up 95% of the U.S. Hispanic population.3 Among them, six Hispanic origin groups have populations greater than 1 million. |
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Mexican-origin Hispanics have always been the largest Hispanic-origin group in the U.S. In 1860, for example, among the 155,000 Hispanics living in the U.S., 81% were of Mexican origin—a historic high. Since then the origins of the nation’s Hispanic population have diversified as growing numbers of immigrants from other Latin American nations and Puerto Rico settled in the U.S. For example, between 1930 and 1980, Hispanics from places other than Mexico nearly doubled their representation among U.S. Hispanics, from 22% to 41%. But with the arrival of large numbers of Mexican immigrants in the 1980s and 1990s, the Mexican share among Hispanics grew, rising to a recent peak of 66% in 2008. Since then it has declined slightly—to 65%—as Mexican migration to the U.S. has slowed (Passel, Cohn and Gonzalez-Barrera, 2012). |
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The nation’s Hispanic-origin population differs in many other ways as well. For instance, U.S. Hispanics of Mexican origin have the lowest median age, at 25 years, while Hispanics of Cuban origin have the highest median age, at 40 years. Venezuelans are the most likely to have a college degree (51%) while Guatemalans and Salvadorans are among the least likely (7%). Argentineans have the highest annual median household income ($55,000) while Hondurans have the lowest ($31,000). Close to half (46%) of Hondurans and Guatemalans do not have health insurance while 15% of Puerto Ricans and Spaniards do not have health insurance. Further comparisons and rankings of the nation’s largest Hispanic-origin groups are shown in the appendix of this report.
Hispanics are the nation’s largest minority group. Estimates released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau (2013) show that the Hispanic population in 2012 was 53 million, making up 17% of the U.S. population.4 By comparison, non-Hispanic blacks, who are the nation’s second largest minority group, represent 12% of the nation’s population and non-Hispanic Asians rank third at 5%.5
Hispanics are also the nation’s largest immigrant group and one of its fastest growing populations. According to the Census Bureau, Hispanic population growth between 2000 and 2010 accounted for more than half of the nation’s population growth (Passel, Cohn and Lopez, 2011). Among the nation’s 40.4 million immigrants, nearly half (47%) are Hispanic (Motel and Patten, 2013).
Accompanying this report are 14 statistical profiles—one for each of the 14 largest Hispanic-origin groups. Each statistical profile describes the demographic, employment and income characteristics of a Hispanic-origin population residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each origin group’s characteristics are compared with all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall.
Hispanics are the nation’s largest minority group. Estimates released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau (2013) show that the Hispanic population in 2012 was 53 million, making up 17% of the U.S. population.4 By comparison, non-Hispanic blacks, who are the nation’s second largest minority group, represent 12% of the nation’s population and non-Hispanic Asians rank third at 5%.5
Hispanics are also the nation’s largest immigrant group and one of its fastest growing populations. According to the Census Bureau, Hispanic population growth between 2000 and 2010 accounted for more than half of the nation’s population growth (Passel, Cohn and Lopez, 2011). Among the nation’s 40.4 million immigrants, nearly half (47%) are Hispanic (Motel and Patten, 2013).
Accompanying this report are 14 statistical profiles—one for each of the 14 largest Hispanic-origin groups. Each statistical profile describes the demographic, employment and income characteristics of a Hispanic-origin population residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each origin group’s characteristics are compared with all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall.
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About this Report This report examines the Hispanic population of the United States by its 14 largest origin groups. The data for this report are derived from the 2011 American Community Survey (1% IPUMS), which provides detailed geographic, demographic and economic characteristics for each group. Accompanying this report are profiles of the 14 largest Hispanic-origin groups--Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, Cubans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Spaniards, Hondurans, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Argentineans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. Also accompanying this report is an interactive graphic analyzing these groups on several characteristics. |
Latinos are the nation’s largest minority group and among its fastest growing populations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2013), the Latino population in 2012 was 53 million, making up 17% of the U.S. population.1 Latino population growth between 2000 and 2010 accounted for more than half of the nation’s population growth (Passel, Cohn and Lopez, 2011).
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Paul Taylor for editorial guidance. Eileen Patten checked numbers in the report. Molly Rohal was the copy editor.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Paul Taylor for editorial guidance. Eileen Patten checked numbers in the report. Molly Rohal was the copy editor.
- Population estimates presented in this report are for Hispanics living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Those living in Puerto Rico are not included in population estimates for the nation’s Puerto Rican-origin population. According to the Puerto Rican Community Survey, some 3.7 million people lived in Puerto Rico in 2011. ↩
- Population estimates from the 2011 ACS rank the U.S. Salvadoran-origin population ahead of the U.S. Cuban-origin population, but these estimates are statistically indistinguishable from each other. This isn’t the first time this has happened. Since 2008, the Salvadoran-origin population was estimated to be larger than the Cuban-origin population twice—in 2009 and 2011. Meanwhile, in 2008 and in 2010, the Cuban origin population was estimated to be larger. However, the Salvadoran-origin population is growing faster and is poised to overtake the Cuban-origin population sometime in the next few years. For more, see our blog post “Salvadorans may soon replace Cubans as third-largest U.S. Hispanic group.” ↩
- Percentages are computed before numbers are rounded. ↩
- Throughout this report and in the accompanying statistical profiles, the 2011 American Community Survey is the main data source used. According to Pew Hispanic Center tabulations based on the 2011 ACS, there were 51.9 million Hispanics in the U.S. in 2011. The population estimate published by the U.S. Census Bureau for Hispanics—53 million—reflects data from 2012. ↩
- Reference to whites, blacks and Asians refers to the non-Hispanic components of each population. ↩
Nebraska
This profile contains demographic and economic facts about the Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations in the state of Nebraska. All analyses are from Pew Research Center tabulations of the 1% Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) sample of the 2014 American Community Survey 1. For some states where the population of Hispanics or other groups is relatively small, reliable estimates of some indicators cannot be generated. This is indicated by the insertion of "n/a" in the text of this document and in the associated tables.
This profile contains demographic and economic facts about the Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations in the state of Nebraska. All analyses are from Pew Research Center tabulations of the 1% Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) sample of the 2014 American Community Survey 1. For some states where the population of Hispanics or other groups is relatively small, reliable estimates of some indicators cannot be generated. This is indicated by the insertion of "n/a" in the text of this document and in the associated tables.
- Users should exercise caution when comparing the 2014 estimates with estimates for previous years. Population estimates in the 2010 ACS and later are based on the latest information from the 2010 decennial census; the 2005 to 2009 ACS estimates are based on the latest information available for those surveys—updates of the 2000 decennial census. The impact of this discontinuity on comparisons between the 2010 ACS and earlier years is discussed in a Pew Research Center report. ↩
- National rankings include the District of Columbia as well as the 50 states. Some states may not be ranked due to small sample size. ↩
- For detailed information on how poverty status is determined, see http://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/POVERTY. Due to the way in which the IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those that might be provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. ↩
Lancaster County, Nebraska
The population data for Lancaster County come from three sources. Population counts for 1990 are from the 1990 decennial census (SF1 files). The population counts for 2000 are from the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimates program (http://www.census.gov/popest/). Those estimates are the April 1, 2000, base for the vintage 2009 county population estimates, which may differ slightly from the 2000 decennial census counts because of post-enumeration corrections. The 2014 population counts are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates and are as of July 1 of that year.
The population data for Lancaster County come from three sources. Population counts for 1990 are from the 1990 decennial census (SF1 files). The population counts for 2000 are from the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimates program (http://www.census.gov/popest/). Those estimates are the April 1, 2000, base for the vintage 2009 county population estimates, which may differ slightly from the 2000 decennial census counts because of post-enumeration corrections. The 2014 population counts are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates and are as of July 1 of that year.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
September 15-October 15
El Centro de las Américas is committed to celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Month, which is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the US Latinx and Hispanic communities, validating how those communities have influenced and contributed to the American society at large.
How to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
If you’re not sure where to start, never fear. Here is what you can do:
Honoring Hispanic People
What would the holidays be without Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad”? Can you imagine baseball without Ted Williams, Sammy Sosa, Mariano Rivera or Roberto Clemente? These contributions and others hailing from Spanish-speaking countries around the world have imprinted themselves on our American way of life in countless ways, and it’s time to honor them.
September 15 is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively, and Columbus Day (Dia de la Raza, or Day of the Race, a holiday in many Latin American countries) falls on Oct. 12.
El Centro de las Américas is committed to celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Month, which is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the US Latinx and Hispanic communities, validating how those communities have influenced and contributed to the American society at large.
How to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
If you’re not sure where to start, never fear. Here is what you can do:
Honoring Hispanic People
What would the holidays be without Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad”? Can you imagine baseball without Ted Williams, Sammy Sosa, Mariano Rivera or Roberto Clemente? These contributions and others hailing from Spanish-speaking countries around the world have imprinted themselves on our American way of life in countless ways, and it’s time to honor them.
September 15 is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively, and Columbus Day (Dia de la Raza, or Day of the Race, a holiday in many Latin American countries) falls on Oct. 12.
It’s set aside as a time for Americans to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of the people of Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Initially established as a one-week celebration in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a month in 1988, to acknowledge the growing Hispanic population in our country.
So, this year, why not try recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month by partaking in Hispanic traditions and honoring the many ways in which Hispanics have enriched our lives?
It would be impossible to list all the contributions made by Hispanic people to American life. But there’s no celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month without paying tribute to a few. Read “My Beloved World,” the autobiography of Sonia Sotomayor, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent who, in 2009, became the first Hispanic American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as only the third woman to serve in the entire 220-year history of the nation’s highest court.
Visit a farmers’ market and give thanks to the United Farm Workers union (formerly the National Farm Workers Association), founded by Cesar Chavez, a revolutionary Mexican-American who dedicated his life to nonviolent protest in support of humane treatment of workers and civil rights. His union fought against pesticide use, low wages and cruel working conditions for farm workers.
You might also simply enjoying watching TV in color this month — thanks to Guillermo González a Mexican engineer from Guadalajara who invented the color wheel component that helped make black and white TV a thing of the past.
So, this year, why not try recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month by partaking in Hispanic traditions and honoring the many ways in which Hispanics have enriched our lives?
It would be impossible to list all the contributions made by Hispanic people to American life. But there’s no celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month without paying tribute to a few. Read “My Beloved World,” the autobiography of Sonia Sotomayor, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent who, in 2009, became the first Hispanic American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as only the third woman to serve in the entire 220-year history of the nation’s highest court.
Visit a farmers’ market and give thanks to the United Farm Workers union (formerly the National Farm Workers Association), founded by Cesar Chavez, a revolutionary Mexican-American who dedicated his life to nonviolent protest in support of humane treatment of workers and civil rights. His union fought against pesticide use, low wages and cruel working conditions for farm workers.
You might also simply enjoying watching TV in color this month — thanks to Guillermo González a Mexican engineer from Guadalajara who invented the color wheel component that helped make black and white TV a thing of the past.
2. Appreciate Hispanic Art
Visual art is one of the few ways in which we can experience a culture. Latino landscapes, portraits, social or political issues and cultural touchstones all can be found in the work of Hispanic artists. Look for opportunities near you to experience their works. Many museums and galleries feature the work of Hispanic artists during Hispanic Heritage Month. The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture provides information about initiatives or arts programs around the country.
Alternatively, explore from the comfort of your home. Peruse the Smithsonian Institute’s online exhibition, “Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art,” with works created by artists of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican and Dominican descent since the 1950s.
Though its written content is entirely in Spanish, the beautiful collections found at El Museo Nacional del Prado, Spain’s premier museum, have no language barrier. The 200-year-old museum has the largest collections of Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez and Goya in the world. Delight in perusing the website and discovering some of the world’s greatest works of art and the masterful artists who created them.
Moreover, why not try your hand at your own Mexican folk art? With just a plain terracotta pot and some brightly colored acrylic paints (try red, white and green for the Mexican flag!), you can create a colorful, hand-painted pot in the style of Mexican folk art, incorporating dots, zig zags, triangles and stripes.
Visual art is one of the few ways in which we can experience a culture. Latino landscapes, portraits, social or political issues and cultural touchstones all can be found in the work of Hispanic artists. Look for opportunities near you to experience their works. Many museums and galleries feature the work of Hispanic artists during Hispanic Heritage Month. The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture provides information about initiatives or arts programs around the country.
Alternatively, explore from the comfort of your home. Peruse the Smithsonian Institute’s online exhibition, “Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art,” with works created by artists of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican and Dominican descent since the 1950s.
Though its written content is entirely in Spanish, the beautiful collections found at El Museo Nacional del Prado, Spain’s premier museum, have no language barrier. The 200-year-old museum has the largest collections of Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez and Goya in the world. Delight in perusing the website and discovering some of the world’s greatest works of art and the masterful artists who created them.
Moreover, why not try your hand at your own Mexican folk art? With just a plain terracotta pot and some brightly colored acrylic paints (try red, white and green for the Mexican flag!), you can create a colorful, hand-painted pot in the style of Mexican folk art, incorporating dots, zig zags, triangles and stripes.
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3. Read Hispanic Literature
Immerse yourself into the lives and times of some of the world’s greatest writers. Read the poems of 1971 Nobel Prize-winner Pablo Neruda, a Chilean who was awarded the prize “for a poetry that with the action of an elemental force brings alive a continent’s destiny and dreams.” Read one of the most important novels ever written, “El Quijote de la Mancha,” also known as “Don Quixote de la Mancha,” written by Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish writer and poet of the Spanish Golden Age. The novel is considered the first “anti-romance” because it dispels the myth of the shining knight on a white horse by telling the story of a man who goes mad upon reading a book of ballads and decides to become a knight. Discover the work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a Mexican nun who wrote numerous poems, essay and plays. She is considered one of the most important writers of the Spanish language. Her calling forced her to surrender her library and give up her writing. On the other hand, open the pages of “Love in the Time of Cholera” or “100 Years of Solitude,” the internationally acclaimed novels by Gabriel García Márquez, a Colombian author and winner of a 1982 Nobel Prize. Described as “magical realism,” his works combine elements of fantasy with conventional storytelling that depicts his heritage and the Hispanic experience. |
4. Listen to the Music of Talented Hispanic Performers
Watch “West Side Story” or “The King and I” and dance along with Rita Moreno, the Puerto Rican star of those films whose body of work earned her all four American entertainment awards: Academy, Tony, Grammy and Emmy.
Of course, there’s also the music of such beloved Hispanic musicians and singers as Jennifer Lopez (whose family were Puerto Ricans), Shakira (a Colombian), Ricky Martin (a Puerto Rican), Christina Aguilera (whose father is Ecuadorian), Gloria Estefan (a Cuban), Carlos Santana (a Mexican-American), Tito Puente (whose family were Puerto Rican), Celia Cruz (Cuban) among many others brilliant performers
Watch “West Side Story” or “The King and I” and dance along with Rita Moreno, the Puerto Rican star of those films whose body of work earned her all four American entertainment awards: Academy, Tony, Grammy and Emmy.
Of course, there’s also the music of such beloved Hispanic musicians and singers as Jennifer Lopez (whose family were Puerto Ricans), Shakira (a Colombian), Ricky Martin (a Puerto Rican), Christina Aguilera (whose father is Ecuadorian), Gloria Estefan (a Cuban), Carlos Santana (a Mexican-American), Tito Puente (whose family were Puerto Rican), Celia Cruz (Cuban) among many others brilliant performers
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5. Discover Hispanic-American History You may not realize just how pivotal a role Hispanics have played in the shaping of American history. Go back 500 years to when Spanish explorers discovered California, Florida, the Southwest and the Mexican states. Later, during the Revolutionary War, Bernardo de Gálvez, the governor of the Louisiana Territory, sent weapons and supplies to General George Washington’s army. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War, helping the U.S. to gain Texas, New Mexico and Upper California. Since its founding, the U.S. has been deeply influenced by the Spanish-speaking world. Immerse yourself in the history of Hispanic Americans by watching “Latino Americans,” a 2013 PBS special detailing the histories of Latinos from the first European settlements to today. The website for the special contains episodes, a timeline of events and even an opportunity to share your own video story of what being Hispanic means to you, and how you celebrate your heritage |
You might even choose to explore some history face-to-face by visiting one of the many Hispanic Heritage Sites in America. These include The Palace of Governors in Santa Fe, NM; the Hispanic Society of America in New York City; the National Cesar Chavez at La Paz property in Keene, CA; the Forts of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico; and the El Centro Español de Tampa in Florida’s Latin Quarter. In addition, the National Register of Historic Places identifies properties that are significant for Hispanic heritage, including St. John the Divine Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS; Chicano Park in San Diego, CA; Lerma’s Nite Club in San Antonio, TX and many others. Examples of Spanish architecture abound in many of these places.
6. Have Fun the Hispanic Way
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month should include fun. Try a few cultural traditions of the Hispanic world. Play Toma Todo, a game from Mexico. With a top made of paper, called a pirinola, each player takes a turn spinning the top and following the instructions that are facing up and either takes or replaces chips from the “pot” in the middle of the players. The player who has the most chips wins.
And what’s a Hispanic celebration without a piñata? Drop by any party store to pick one up, or make one with a balloon, papier-mâché and whatever treats or toys you decide to fill it with. Players take turns whacking the piñata with sticks while blindfolded (and, optionally, dizzy) till it bursts open and spills the treats inside. History has it that Marco Polo brought the idea to Italy and Spain, and missionaries brought it from Spain to the New World. The traditional shape of a piñata — a sphere with seven conical points symbolizing the seven deadly sins — was said to contain the pleasures of life. The person batting it with a stick was meant to represent faith, which can defeat evil, with the treats inside being the sweet rewards to follow.
6. Have Fun the Hispanic Way
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month should include fun. Try a few cultural traditions of the Hispanic world. Play Toma Todo, a game from Mexico. With a top made of paper, called a pirinola, each player takes a turn spinning the top and following the instructions that are facing up and either takes or replaces chips from the “pot” in the middle of the players. The player who has the most chips wins.
And what’s a Hispanic celebration without a piñata? Drop by any party store to pick one up, or make one with a balloon, papier-mâché and whatever treats or toys you decide to fill it with. Players take turns whacking the piñata with sticks while blindfolded (and, optionally, dizzy) till it bursts open and spills the treats inside. History has it that Marco Polo brought the idea to Italy and Spain, and missionaries brought it from Spain to the New World. The traditional shape of a piñata — a sphere with seven conical points symbolizing the seven deadly sins — was said to contain the pleasures of life. The person batting it with a stick was meant to represent faith, which can defeat evil, with the treats inside being the sweet rewards to follow.
If nothing else, you could always try a little Spanish on for size, just in honor of the month. Learn some basic Spanish phrases, such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, how are you, I’m sorry and you’re welcome. Practice them throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. De nada!
7. Explore the Hispanic World
Locales in South and West Texas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the American Southwest, the California Coast, the Georgia-Florida coastline, Florida shipwrecks and Santa Clara, CA all are among those listed on the National Park Service website as areas where Hispanic heritage is demonstrated in national parks. The NPS is enhancing its interpretive services, its collaborations with community organizations and its production of scholarly documents as part of its American Latino Heritage Projects efforts.
Whether you take a family trip or simply peruse the NPS website, you’ll learn a lot about the Hispanic heritage that is part of America’s most beautiful places.
Why not actually visit some Latin American or Spanish-speaking destinations? Do as the Hispanics do — a recent study reveals that Hispanics take more time off work each year than Americans do, and they visit more destinations of personal significance. Enjoy a little time off for Hispanic Heritage Month and visit some of the most stunningly beautiful and culturally rich nations in the world.
But you don’t need to leave the country to explore Hispanic destinations. According to AARP, some of the U.S. cities where Hispanic culture flourishes are:
7. Explore the Hispanic World
Locales in South and West Texas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the American Southwest, the California Coast, the Georgia-Florida coastline, Florida shipwrecks and Santa Clara, CA all are among those listed on the National Park Service website as areas where Hispanic heritage is demonstrated in national parks. The NPS is enhancing its interpretive services, its collaborations with community organizations and its production of scholarly documents as part of its American Latino Heritage Projects efforts.
Whether you take a family trip or simply peruse the NPS website, you’ll learn a lot about the Hispanic heritage that is part of America’s most beautiful places.
Why not actually visit some Latin American or Spanish-speaking destinations? Do as the Hispanics do — a recent study reveals that Hispanics take more time off work each year than Americans do, and they visit more destinations of personal significance. Enjoy a little time off for Hispanic Heritage Month and visit some of the most stunningly beautiful and culturally rich nations in the world.
But you don’t need to leave the country to explore Hispanic destinations. According to AARP, some of the U.S. cities where Hispanic culture flourishes are:
- Philadelphia, PA: In the Fairhill neighborhood, visit El Centro de Oro, home to Latino restaurants, bookstores, music stores and galleries.
- Tubac, AZ: This city, just a half-hour from the Mexican border, is steeped in Hispanic culture and traditions, which are often celebrated in its festivals, arts and foods.
- St. Louis, MO: The city’s thriving Hispanic population is felt in area grocery stores, restaurants, art galleries and music houses, where Latin music pours from its doors.
- Trenton, NJ: Visit the New Jersey State Museum, which houses a permanent collection of Latino artwork.
- Santa Ana, CA: A full 78.2 percent of Santa Ana residents speak Spanish as their first language, and Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day, is celebrated with fervor here.
- Salt Lake City, UT: With 22 percent of the population being Hispanic, Salt Lake City offers quite a lot of Latino culture. This includes the Utah Brazilian Festival, the Peruvian Festival and the Mexican Fiesta.
8. Dine the Hispanic Way
A life without chips and salsa, tacos, guacamole, tamales, burritos, enchiladas, chili, margaritas or black beans and rice just might not be worth living. In the U.S., often times the places that Hispanic influence is most evident in is in what, and how, we eat.
Take, for instance, the fast food industry. According to The Washington Times, sales of tortillas now outpace those of hamburger and hotdog buns, and salsa has surpassed ketchup as America’s favorite condiment.
One of the best ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is to visit a Hispanic restaurant. Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants abound, but why not give El Salvador a try, with its pupusa, a thick handmade corn or rice flour tortilla stuff with meat, cheese and refried beans? What about Cuban, Peruvian, Argentinian, Chilean or Spanish cuisine? Look for opportunities to sample Colombian and Venezuelan arepas, a food made of ground maize dough or cooked flour; Cuban picadillo, or hash; Costa Rican gallo pinto, a rice and bean dish; Spanish paella, a flavorful combination of rice, spices, meat and seafood; or Peruvian and Ecuadorian ceviche, a dish of raw seafood cured in citrus juices and peppers.
You might even want to throw a fiesta! Stop by your neighborhood Mexican carniceria, or meat market, and pick up a few pounds of carne asada, which is thinly sliced beef marinating in juices and spices, or hit the local panaderia, or Mexican bakery, for some pastries and sweet breads. Then whip up some margaritas and a taco bar, blast some Cuban rhythms, hang a piñata and dance the night away.
Your food will be even better if you’ve planted a Hispanic heritage garden, in which you’ve grown staple crops common in the Spanish-speaking world, including corn, beans, squash and peppers. This is a great way to get your kids involved in recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month.
A life without chips and salsa, tacos, guacamole, tamales, burritos, enchiladas, chili, margaritas or black beans and rice just might not be worth living. In the U.S., often times the places that Hispanic influence is most evident in is in what, and how, we eat.
Take, for instance, the fast food industry. According to The Washington Times, sales of tortillas now outpace those of hamburger and hotdog buns, and salsa has surpassed ketchup as America’s favorite condiment.
One of the best ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is to visit a Hispanic restaurant. Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants abound, but why not give El Salvador a try, with its pupusa, a thick handmade corn or rice flour tortilla stuff with meat, cheese and refried beans? What about Cuban, Peruvian, Argentinian, Chilean or Spanish cuisine? Look for opportunities to sample Colombian and Venezuelan arepas, a food made of ground maize dough or cooked flour; Cuban picadillo, or hash; Costa Rican gallo pinto, a rice and bean dish; Spanish paella, a flavorful combination of rice, spices, meat and seafood; or Peruvian and Ecuadorian ceviche, a dish of raw seafood cured in citrus juices and peppers.
You might even want to throw a fiesta! Stop by your neighborhood Mexican carniceria, or meat market, and pick up a few pounds of carne asada, which is thinly sliced beef marinating in juices and spices, or hit the local panaderia, or Mexican bakery, for some pastries and sweet breads. Then whip up some margaritas and a taco bar, blast some Cuban rhythms, hang a piñata and dance the night away.
Your food will be even better if you’ve planted a Hispanic heritage garden, in which you’ve grown staple crops common in the Spanish-speaking world, including corn, beans, squash and peppers. This is a great way to get your kids involved in recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month.
Mix up some fresh tortilla soup or spicy black beans with rice in a ceramic pot, and serve it up to fiesta guests, or make it as a delicious dinner for your family at home. Though traditional Mexican cooking often uses earthenware or clay pots, noted for the unique flavor they contribute to foods, these pots often contain lead glazes, which are not safe for food use. It’s often difficult to find lead-free Mexican pots, so make sure you buy from a Caldero brand with a superior reputation, like Ceramcor which makes Xtrema ceramic Calderos and Ovenex burrito bowls.
Ceramics are incredibly versatile, as they’re able to go from extreme heat to extreme cold, and they can be used to store food in the refrigerator. They can even go in the microwave. Their attractive surface stands up to scrubbing, and they make beautiful serving dishes. They are the least reactive cookware out there, and they’re perfect for one-pot meals, which are staples of Hispanic cuisine, from arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) to paella, albondigas or tortilla soups, black or refried beans, Spanish chorizo and potatoes, burritos, enchiladas or pulled pork tacos.
So pour yourself an icy margarita, slather some guacamole on a chip, dance the merengue, cumbia, salsa and pay tribute to the thousands of ways in which Hispanic nations have touched our lives. Try celebrating Hispanic heritage all month long, and perhaps the rest of the year, too.
Ceramics are incredibly versatile, as they’re able to go from extreme heat to extreme cold, and they can be used to store food in the refrigerator. They can even go in the microwave. Their attractive surface stands up to scrubbing, and they make beautiful serving dishes. They are the least reactive cookware out there, and they’re perfect for one-pot meals, which are staples of Hispanic cuisine, from arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) to paella, albondigas or tortilla soups, black or refried beans, Spanish chorizo and potatoes, burritos, enchiladas or pulled pork tacos.
So pour yourself an icy margarita, slather some guacamole on a chip, dance the merengue, cumbia, salsa and pay tribute to the thousands of ways in which Hispanic nations have touched our lives. Try celebrating Hispanic heritage all month long, and perhaps the rest of the year, too.
