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State's Hispanic count on the march

'06 census report: more diversity, older residents

Aresu Eqbali And Burt Hubbard, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 17, 2007 at midnight

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Colorado took on a more diverse and older look last year, according to Census Bureau estimates released Wednesday.

Hispanics accounted for more than a third of the state's population growth in 2006, and now make up about 20 percent of Colorado's residents, the report said.

The report also showed that baby boomers, 45 to 64, were the fastest-growing age group in the state.

The 3.6 percent increase in Colorado's Hispanic population between 2005 and 2006 slightly outpaced the national Hispanic growth of 3.4 percent. Hispanics comprised 32,441 of the state's 90,082 new residents.

Economic opportunities are Colorado's main draw for Hispanics, said Polly Baca, executive director of the Latin American Research and Service Agency.

"We have a growing economy," she said. "That's probably the number one reason . . . The second reason is the extended family. People come and join their families."

The rising population accounts for the strengthening of Hispanic buying power, she said.

"I remember from 1990 to 2000, it (buying power) grew from $3 billion to $9 billion. It is now $17.5 billion," Baca said. "The dollars are being spent here, and that's good for all of us."

As for political power, she said, "It's going to take a little bit longer. However, a whole new generation is being politicized that will change the politics in Colorado within the next decade."

State demographer Elizabeth Garner said the relative youthfulness of the Hispanic population contributes to the growth.

"Hispanics are younger. They are in the high fertility ages. They are having more babies," Garner said.

The Anglo population totaled 3,409,723, accounting for 71.7 percent of Coloradans last year.

However, it grew only 1.4 percent in 2005 and 2006.

The state's Asian population increased 3.6 percent, while the black population grew by 2.4 percent.

The population of baby boomers increased by 3.7 percent, followed by residents 65 years of age and over at 2.7 percent.

Garner said the baby boom generation, including retirees who move to the state, will increase through the rest of the decade.

The state's median age is 35, nearly a year older than in 2000, and the population of young adults ages 18 to 24 grew only 0.1 percent.

"I think you have to consider it for what it is," said Larry Kallenberger, executive director of Colorado Counties. "It is the new demographics of America.

"The baby boom generation was the giant generation. But the younger generation is not as large as that."

Some retirees move to the state to start a business, enjoy the beauties of nature or build houses.

"I think some of them are probably people who have left Colorado and are coming back home again," Kallenberger said.

"Whether or not that continues in the future has a lot to do with whether or not Colorado's willing to invest to continue to make it a nice place."