Growing Hispanic & Latino Population

Since 2000, the number of people in the Mid-Hudson Valley that identify as Hispanic or Latino has increased significantly in all seven counties of the region. The U.S. Census Bureau defines “Hispanic or Latino” as “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.”

From 2000 to 2017, the Hispanic and Latino population grew in all seven counties in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Orange, the county with the region’s largest population, experienced the largest increase in the Hispanic and Latino population, which rose by 34,905 from 2000 to 2017. At 19.7%, it also has the highest percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents of the seven counties among all of its residents. Putnam County experienced the largest percentage increase of the Hispanic or Latino population, which grew by 7,708 from 2000 to 2017, or 129%.