OLMIS

by Dallas Fridley
Published Aug-2-2012

Age Classes Race and Ethnicity

The Mid-Columbia Region showed diversity in its 2010 Census population estimate, but it also had some surprising concentrations. Compared with Oregon, Hispanics were a far more prominent ethnic group in the Mid-Columbia, particularly in the western end of the region. The very young (age 14 and under) were also more prominent in the Mid-Columbia but so too were residents ages 50 and over.

The very young, along with the 50-and-over crowd, were more concentrated in the Mid-Columbia, while younger adults fell short of Oregon's profile. Young adults in the Mid-Columbia Region aged 20 to 24 years represented just 5.2 percent of its 2010 Census population estimate compared with Oregon's 6.6 percent. The next three age groups, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35 to 39 years all fell short of Oregon's profile. As a group, residents ages 20 to 39 years represented just 22.6 percent of the Mid-Columbia's 2010 population compared with Oregon's 26.8 percent. Graph 1 compares 2010 Census age distribution in the Mid-Columbia and Oregon.

There are five counties in the Mid-Columbia Region, each with its own unique population profile. Hood River County's population was the youngest, with a median age of 38.0 years, slightly below Oregon's 38.4 years. Wasco County's median age, at 41.7 years, was significantly higher than either Hood River or Oregon - but not drastically higher. Wheeler County's median age, at 53.0 years, didn't quite rank as Oregon's oldest, rather it fell just shy of Curry County's 53.5 years. Wheeler and Hood River counties are in the same region so it is at least interesting to note that Hood River County ranked as Oregon's 10th youngest county, still in the top third while Wasco County ranked right in the middle of the pack, at 18th. Gilliam County's median age, at 49.7, ranked as the fifth oldest in Oregon and Sherman County's median age, at 48.2 years, ranked as the seventh oldest. In summation one county (Hood River) ranked in the youngest tier of Oregon counties, one county (Wasco) ranked in the middle tier, while the region's three rural counties (Gilliam, Sherman and Wheeler) were at least 10 years ahead of Oregon's median. Graph 2 provides county level age distribution in the Mid-Columbia region.

Before discussing the race and ethnic makeup of the Mid-Columbia, it is important to mention a few points. First, respondents to the most recent census were given the option of specifying more than one racial category (White, Black, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, other). In other words, respondents could classify themselves as belonging to two or more races. Second, the census breaks out the population by ethnic categories (Hispanic, not Hispanic) in addition to racial categories. Finally, all racial data from the census is self-reported. Respondents decide with which racial and ethnic group they want to be identified.

The Mid-Columbia shared one key trait with Oregon, that being the white racial group which comprised 84 percent of Oregon's population and 86 percent of the region's. Asians comprised 4 percent of Oregon's population compared with just 1 percent in the Mid-Columbia. American Indian and Alaska Natives, however, were more concentrated in the Mid-Columbia, representing 3 percent of the Mid-Columbia's 2010 Census population and just 1 percent of Oregon's. But the black or African American racial group comprised just 0.4 percent of the Mid-Columbia's residents, while Oregon's share was closer to 2 percent.

The Hispanic or Latino ethnic group, which represented one out of five Mid-Columbia residents, was concentrated in Hood River County or Wasco County. Table 1 shows that in Hood River County, the Hispanic or Latino ethnic group comprised 29 percent of its population, totaling nearly 6,600. Wasco County's share was about half that level, at 15 percent, but still out in front of Oregon's 12 percent. Sherman County (6%), Gilliam County (4%) and Wheeler County (3%) were home to very few residents from the Hispanic or Latino ethnic group. The Hispanic or Latino ethnic group represented 8 percent of Oregon's population in 2000 and about 15 percent of the Mid-Columbia's.