ShareThisThe Asian American population of Illinois has grown to 586,934, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011. This growth marks a 39% increase since 2000. There are 92,304 Asian Americans in DuPage County, making them now 10% of the County’s total population.
The numbers come from the 2010 Census, which federal officials have begun to make available nationwide.
These figures confirm that Asian Americans have become one of the fastest growing segments of the state’s population, while other races in Illinois have seen an overall decline. “They also underline the growing role Asian Americans have assumed as leaders in the state’s business, educational and community organizations,” said Tuyet Le, executive director of the Asian American Institute. “However it also reflects that we have a ways to go to gaining political representation.”
Some of the more important changes for Asian-Americans reflected by these numbers include:
* Twelve counties in Illinois experienced 100% or more Asian population growth.
* Cook County housed around 61% of Illinois Asian population in 2000, now composes only 55% of the total Asian American population.
* Cook, Will, DuPage, Lake, and Kane each experienced over 10,000 total population growth in their respective Asian populations.
* Will and Kane County experiences tremendous growth, 177% and 145% respectively. Together, they now housed over 8% of the total Illinois Asian American population, up from 4.35% in 2000.
* Cook, DuPage, and Lake had the highest total Asian American population in 2000, and continue to do so in 2010.
Redistricting, Politics and Asian Americans
Every ten years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a count of all U.S. residents, which is then used to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts. This redistricting process that begins in 2011 deeply affects the Asian American community, and the Asian American Institute will be working towards a fair map that allows the community’s voice be heard through increased legislative representation.
Currently there are no Asian American Congressional members, Illinois General Assembly members, nor aldermen in Chicago’s City Council even though Asian Americans represent 4.57 % of the state population. If Asians were proportionally represented, there would be 5 Asian American representatives in the house and 3 Asians in the senate. Through the upcoming redistricting process, the Asian American Institute its partners aim to empower the Asian American community through more equitable representation in Chicago and Illinois as a whole.
These figures reflect only the totals of people who selected a single race category of Asian. In the coming months, AAI will be providing more analysis and details as more Census figures continue to be released.