(NAME-MCE) State's face is changing -- fast (Oregon)

[Anselmo Villanueva]

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State's face is changing -- fast

Oregon sees a surge in Latinos, who account for nearly all new
Multnomah County residents since 2000

Thursday, August 09, 2007
ESMERALDA BERMUDEZ
The Oregonian Staff  Portland OR

Virtually every newcomer to Multnomah County since 2000 has been
Latino, radically changing the growth pattern of the state's urban
core, new U.S. Census figures show.

While the slow-growing county remains largely white, 94 percent of new
growth in the past seven years has been Hispanic. That means that
18,600 of Multnomah County's 19,800 new residents were Latino.

Data also show that a trend of losses in the white population since
2000 appeared to begin reversing itself in 2006. That could be from a
boost in jobs and the migration of young professionals, but experts
say it is too soon to tell whether that shift spells a long-term
change in course.

In Washington County, the Latino community continues to see just as
much growth as it has in recent years, with the non-Latino white
population gaining just as much ground. And in Marion County, Latinos
now make up 21 percent of the area's total population.

The new growth in Oregon's largest county mirrors that of counties
nationwide that are making room for more minorities, especially
Latinos. Nearly one in every 10 of the nation's 3,141 counties now has
a population that is more than 50 percent minority, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau.

While the Hispanic population still makes up 10 percent of Multnomah
County's 661,584 residents, the new presence of Latinos has been felt,
said Nathan Teske, family services program manager for El Programa
Hispano, a leading Latino outreach organization with offices in
Portland and Gresham.

Since 2000, the program's funding and staff have doubled to about $2
million and more than 30 employees. Today, the agency serves an
estimated 12,500 Latinos across the county.

"We've seen the growth, and we've experienced it," said Teske, adding
that El Programa's crisis hot line and tax preparation program face
the most demand from Latino clients. "As a culture-specific provider,
we still have programs turning some people away because some are
stretched to the max."

Ramiro Mendoza moved his wife and four children to Multnomah County
21/2 years ago from Reno to start a business. Trying their luck, they
heard Oregon was a good place to live.

Today, the scent of freshly baked sweet bread wafts throughout El
Grande, a food store Mendoza owns with a friend. The family lives in
outer Southeast Portland. They like the area, despite troubles with
gangs and graffiti.

"We're happy to serve our community," Mendoza said. "We work long
hours, more than ever, but business is growing, and we're thriving."

Others aren't as content with being part of the county.

Jovina Rosario moved to Gresham's Rockwood neighborhood six months ago
from Beaverton. The single mother of two is out of work, and her
neighborhood is heavy with crime and gangs.

On the west side, she worked odd jobs at Pizza Hut and Subway, but she
no longer could afford to pay rent.

"I didn't move to Multnomah County by choice," she said. "Crazy stuff
happens here, like gangs. I got kids, and it's not safe for them. If I
could, I would move back to Beaverton."

As seen for years, the growth of Latinos continues to overshadow that
of other groups because of high birth rates, said George Hough,
director of Portland State University's Population Research Center.

"It's Latinos ages 0 to 17 where we really see change," Hough said.
"That dramatic change is what will say what our futures are going to
look like."

Moving west

Across the Portland area, the growth of many counties is being shaped
by Latinos. To the west, the bulk of Hispanics continues to gravitate
toward Washington County.

There, Latino growth has remained steady at about 36 percent or 24,000
new residents since 2000. Non-Latino whites are growing at a similar
pace. Asians also have diversified the area, adding 12,700 residents
since 2000.

Expecting additional population gains by minorities, the Washington
County Human Rights Commission was formed last year. The group is made
up of prominent county citizens to deal with changing color and
culture of their cities.

"No matter how hard we try, there are still going to be challenges,
but we hope that through communication, education and collaboration we
can minimize that when things go awry," said Sheila Griffie,
vice-chair of the committee.

Among those most affected by the Latino boom is Marion County with a
population of 374,230. One out of every five residents in the area is
Latino.

In Woodburn's downtown, along four blocks that surround the city's
center, a public square with a fountain known as "La Plaza" sets the
stage for some of the most visible changes in Marion County.

Latino-owned businesses that have revitalized a once-vacant downtown
anchor every corner, their colorful hand-painted facades speaking to
the dramatic transformation of this city of 23,000 in the past two
decades as the city's Hispanic population has ballooned to more than
50 percent.

Now included in the minority pool of non-Latino whites is Tammy
Alloway. Over the years, those around her have looked less and less
like her.

"There are no white people here," says the 48-year-old as she exits
one of downtown Woodburn's four Mexican bakeries with a bag of baked
goods. "Not a single one."

Incoming waves of Latinos have led to significant change for
Woodburn's mayor, Kathy Figley.

The city hired a bilingual community relations manager to serve as an
ombudsman to the Latino community, attracted Spanish-speaking police
officers with a language premium and kept close ties with the Mexican
consulate.

Officials from universities and other Oregon cities come to Woodburn
to study how the city has adapted to the demographic shift.

"This is the direction America is going in the 21st century," Figley
said. "There are challenges, and we're obligated to be a laboratory,
but if we're an example of doing things right, we have a lot to be
proud of."

Gosia Wozniacka and Amy Hsuan of The Oregonian staff contributed to this report.

Esmeralda Bermudez: 503-294-5961; ebermudez at news.oregonian.com