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Race and Ethnicity <br />White Americans comprise the largest segment of the County's population. In 1990, 4 out of <br />every 5 persons in the county identified themselves as being white. This is a consistent with the <br />1970 and 1980 Census, but a departure from the 19.50 and 1960 Census when approximately <br />75%, or 3 out of 4 persons identified themselves as white. The largest minority group in Orange <br />County are African or Black Americans. Comprising 16% of the County's total population and <br />83% of the non-white population, the number of African Americans in Orange has increased by <br />73% between 1950 and 1990, an average annual growth rate of 1.83% per year. Outside of <br />African Americans, persons who identify themselves as Asian/Pacific Islander or Native <br />American constitute the next largest portions of the County's minority population. In 1990, <br />Latino/a persons comprised 1% of the total county population. It is critical to note that Persons <br />of Spanish Origin is not a racial classification consequently persons that identify themselves as <br />such can be of any race. <br />Population By Race and Spanish Origin Orange County, 1990 <br />White <br />~ B~la <br />FK Native <br />~ scan <br />~ ther <br />~ Latino/a <br />Org <br />ORANGE 75,871 14,893 286 2,361 40 1,279 <br />Bingham ,611 .523 15 19 16 64 <br />Cedar Grove 2,384 1,263 ~f ' 37 76 <br />hapel Hill 50,819 8,379 252 2 ,184 339 837 <br />Cheeks ,110 1,255 14 1' - 34 61 <br />Eno ,768 37 23 2 0 14 38 <br />Hillsborough 7,233 2,807 27 4 r5- 24 96 <br />Little River ! 1,924 . 240 10 ~ ~ 13 <br />Chapel Hill 31,875 ,853 123 1,684 184 607 <br />Carrboro 9,066 1,930 39 27 91 199 <br />Hillsborough 2,557 1,663 13 23 ~ 24 <br />Mebane 3,756 952 I ' 24 15 48 <br />Source: 1990 US Census <br />Since 1990, an estimated 4,991 or 26% of the County's new 19,030 residents have been non- <br />white. The percentage of new County residents that are thought to be of Spanish Origin is 9.3%. <br />Overall the number of Latino/a persons in Orange County has risen by 139% between 1990 and <br />1998. <br />Poverty <br />According to the 1990 Census approximately 13.9% of the County's 84,556 residents for whom <br />poverty status was determined (i.e. populations excluding those living in institutions, college <br />dormitories, military quarters and unrelated .individuals under. the age of 15), .are living in <br />poverty. When compared to other Triangle communities the County ranks 4th out of the 6 <br />counties that comprise the Planning J region in the percent of population that is below poverty. <br />7 <br />