While a map of the US showing the largest ethnic group of each county in the nation provides a broad brush view of our nation’s diversity, using actual census numbers provides a deeper window into our nation’s diversity.
Based on the 2010 Census, four groups, German American, African American, Irish American and Mexican American constitute about half of the nation’s population.
Adding English American, Italian American, Polish American, French American and those who simply say American, you get to about 75 percent of Americans. Some respondents selected more than one ancestry group or race.
Here are 33 of the largest ethnic groups based on the 2010 Census. Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian are combined here with American Indians. The total population of the US in 2010 was 308.7 million. The National Museum of the American People expects to use the 2020 Census in bringing the story of the making of the American People up to the present.
This blog is about the proposed National Museum of the American People which is about the making of the American People. The blog will be reporting regularly on a host of NMAP topics, American ethnic group histories, related museums, scholarship centered on the museum’s focus, relevant census and other demographic data, and pertinent political issues. The museum is a work in progress and we welcome thoughtful suggestions.
Sam Eskenazi, Director, Coalition for the National Museum of the American People