Census 2010 facts and figures

The U.S. Census Bureau released Virginia's 2010 Census data for the local areas on February 3. The February 2011 edition of Virginia Town & City had some of the highlights, according to the Demographics & Workforce Group of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. Here are a few of those highlights:

• Virginia's population now totals 8 million. This reflects a growth of more than 900,00.


• 82% of this growth occurred in the state's three major metropolitan statistical areas:Northern VA (55%), metropolitan Richmond (17%), and Hampton Roads(10%)


• 70% of the population resides in these three areas.


• Northern Virginia continues to lead in population size and growth. Fairfax County remains the largest locality in the state. Growth in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties accounts for 40% of Virginia's total growth.


• The largest racial groups in Virginia are white (69%) and African-American (19%).


• Among all minority groups, Hispanics had the largest growth (more than 300,000) and growth rate (92%) in the last decade.


• 62% of Virginia's Hispanic population lives in Northern Virginia.


• The African-American population is concentrated in the southern part of the state, while the Asian population predominantly resides in D.C. suburbs as well as college towns, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Harrisonburg, as well as a few other localities.

This is the first time that decennial census data does not include details on topics such as education, income, and poverty. That information is now provided on an annual basis by the American Community Survey, also administered by the Census Bureau.