The period between 1990 and 2000 saw a significant rise and a broadening geographical distribution of the Hispanic population for much of the United States. The southern states were no exception to this trend and Eastern North Carolina saw nearly a tripling of its Latino residents. Hispanic is a general term describing Spanish-speaking populations here in the US whose origins are in Central and South America, as well as Spain and the Caribbean. Latino is basically synonymous with Hispanic, but it is the preferred appellation in many US states, including North Carolina). This section uses maps to describe the trends for both the Southern US and North Carolina during this time period. The maps show percentages at the county level, in addition to showing growth between the two time periods. Hispanics or Latinos with origins in Mexico, Central, and South America are broken out from the general Hispanic population. Data for these maps are based on the 1990 and 2000 Census, Summary File 1.

Also included in this section is a map that describes the population distribution of migrant and seasonal farmworkers for North Carolina during the mid- to late 1990s. This map is included here because, for the most part, the greatest proportion of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina are made up of Latinos who have origins in Mexico, Central and South America. The data for estimating this population were based on extant national databases and agricultural workforce models. The estimated enumeration is available from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, a federal agency. The denominator data, which are the county total populations, are from North Carolina’s Office of State Budget and Management.

It is very important to consider the impact of the Hispanic or Latino population on the counties of Eastern North Carolina. For many counties, this population is a significant component--in terms of both production and consumption--in local and agriculturally based economies. In turn, local public health resources and programs will need to be focused and tailored to the health needs of this growing and vital population.