Minority Group Composition 



Blacks are the predominant minority group in Northwest Florida (Table 

 10). In 1980, Blacks, American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, Asians, and Pacific 

 Islanders made up 16% of the population in Northwest Florida; the same as for 

 the State. 



The 1980 totals for the "White" and "other" categories are not comparable 

 to the 1970 census. The explanation stems primarily from the way Hispanics 

 reported their race in the 1980 census. Nationwide, a larger portion (40%) of 

 people of Spanish origin did not report that they belonged to a specific race 

 so they were included in the "other" category. Another 56% said they were 

 White (U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census 1981). Similar 



20.000 —I 



16,000 — 



12.000 



10,000 _ 



< 

 3 



8,000 



6.000 



2.000 — 



Soumwes. FloridaBegloMhlfl^ 



Northwest Florida Region (high) 



1 T 



s 

 s 



Figure 1. Florida population projections for 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2020 

 (Florida Statistical Abstract 1980). 



