Observations on Ethnicity and Ancestry in the United  States, 2010-2012

A wealth of data from the 2010 U.S. Census and estimates from the 2012 American Community Survey provide us with important insights on race, ethnicity, and ancestry.  

County-level maps of these data show signs of the growing dominance of minority ethnic areas, especially majority-minority counties, as well as the regional persistence of many ancestry groups such as  Finns and Cajuns.  These maps also demonstrate the expansion and diversification of Hispanic or Latino groups as well as the growing strength of non-European ancestry groups, including Asian identities and those claiming simply American ancestry.