Recent Census data shows Ind. more diverse, IU expected to follow

The state of Indiana has a more diverse population and is still growing.

According to the 2010 census data released Feb. 10, the Hispanic population, which accounted for 43 percent of the state’s total growth, showed the largest increase of any race or ethnic group in the state with an 81.7 percent increase since the 2000 census.    

“Indiana is definitely becoming more diverse, and I think that even some of the growth of the minority populations is greater than expected,” said Matt Kinghorn, Indiana Business Research Center state demographer. “We even saw greater than expected growth in the state’s black population, so I think Indiana is becoming more diverse. It is still not as diverse as the nation as a whole, but it is becoming more diverse nevertheless.”

Kinghorn said he attributes the growth of the Hispanic population to the job opportunities and the higher fertility rate of Hispanics.

“The Hispanic population tends to have higher fertility rates than the general population so they will have larger families, and that adds to the growth as well,” he said.

The white population’s share of Indiana’s total population dropped to 84.3 percent in 2010 from 87.5 percent in 2000.

“The white population is growing, but its share of the state population is down a little bit,” Kinghorn said. “The population as a whole is so large that I think it will grow at a little bit slower rate.”

Philip Seabrook, assistant vice president for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, said IU should become a reflection of the increased and changing diversity of the state because its founding mission was to serve the people of Indiana.

“The University will become more diverse,” he said. “I think the University is already being moved to becoming a more diverse place because of our original mission to serve the state of Indiana. Indiana has become a rather diverse place.”

Increased diversity is currently one of IU’s goals, Seabrook said.

“This is one of the goals the president has set forth for Indiana University,” he said. “I do think that there will be an increase over the next few years because the population is now a larger population to choose from inside the state and there is a true commitment by the University to become more diverse.”

The Indiana Census results also show population gains and losses all across the state.

The Indianapolis metropolitan area, composed of 10 counties, experienced a population growth during the past decade, adding 231,137 people and accounting for 57 percent of the state’s total growth.

“The Indianapolis area is gaining a lot of population because it is an economically diverse region of the state, so I think that draws a lot of people there,” Kinghorn said.
“I think you will certainly see the Indianapolis area continue to grow. Indianapolis has a lot more going on, and I think these areas will continue to be the economic engine of Indiana and see population increase corresponding with that.”

However, the census results show a great population loss in many of Indiana’s midsize cities, especially in north-central and east-central Indiana, Kinghorn said.

“These areas have long been strong industrial economies, and they saw a population decline,” he said. “The single number that really jumps out is the population loss in Gary losing about 20 percent of its population over the decade. Each city lost manufacturing jobs which were a major driver in some of those areas that are losing population.”

Kinghorn said he anticipates these general trends to continue in the future.

“We will see these broader trends continue, and you will certainly see the Indianapolis area continue to grow and some of the counties around Indianapolis especially grow,” he said.

“I think that in some of the rural areas of the state and in a lot of these mid-sized communities with manufacturing industries, you will continue to see the population decline, but things can change from community to community.”