Hispanic population grows in Oklahoma

ENGLISH

Oklahoma is one of the states that is growing rapidly in terms of its Hispanic population, so much so that the number of Hispanics and Latinos has exceeded the number of Native Americans in the state.

ENGLISH

Oklahoma has been and still is considered the heart of the country's Indian nation, since it has one of the largest number of Native Americans of any state, yet this figure has been exceeded by the Hispanic population, which is taking center stage in the state.

According to data collected from the Oklahoma Census Bureau, the Hispanic population has been increasing by leaps and bounds in recent years.

In the year 2000 a total of 179,304 Hispanics had been counted, a figure that reached 332,007 in the year 2010. Eight years later the figure appears to have doubled, reaching an unofficial total of more than 600,000 Hispanic residents in the state, either with or without a legal status within the country. The last figure was provided by Consul Rodolfo Quilantán Arenas, who is currently in charge of the Mexican consulate based in Little Rock Arkansas. He spoke to La Semana in an exclusive interview of the great impact that the Hispanic population in the state of Oklahoma is having.

Meanwhile, Quilantan also added that the role of the consulate is always to help in all possible ways those Hispanics residing in this country. An important issue that has been put on the table at this time is the possibility of opening more Mexican consulate offices in Oklahoma, and the two places that are being considered are Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

This growth has been reflected throughout the state not only in quantity, but also in its contributions, as well as the creation of businesses and businesses, which in turn have generated thousands of jobs and offer all inhabitants different types of products and services. School enrollment has also increased due to this group of people. It is an undeniable growth everywhere.

The largest concentration of Hispanic inhabitants in relation to the population of their city of residence is found first in Guymon, where more than half of the population identifies itself as Hispanic or Latino. In second place is Watonga where 47% of its population is Hispanic; in the third place is Heavener, with 41% of the Hispanic population; followed by Oakland with 40%, Hooker with 34%, Hollis with 32%, Boise City with 28% and Clinton also with 28%; Oklahoma City, the largest city in the state, has 17%; In the case of Tulsa, being the second largest city in the state, 16% identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino.

A spokesman for the census bureau said in previous years that the Hispanic community, resident or undocumented, has contributed to the fastest growth of the state in rural populations, where work on farms, in thea care of animals and agriculture, has captured the labor attention of this group.

Even so the state of Oklahoma ranks number 21 in Hispanic population in the US. The top five states in Hispanic residents are New Mexico, California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada.

In the case of Tulsa, this is a city that currently has a large number of programs for Hispanics, with an emphasis on those who do not have legal immigration status. Mayor GT Bynum has shown empathy with the Hispanic population, which has given relief to many; In fact his assistant Chirtina Starlz, has made it known that the mayor's office also works for the Hispanic population, looking day by day how to eliminate the barriers so that immigrants can feel part of the city, in all its areas, as well as in health care, education and even the economic development of Tulsa. (La Semana)