As of 2016, the Hispanic and Latino community made up nine percent of Washington, D.C.'s population,[1] and 44.9 percent of non-English-speaking households spoke Spanish.[2] The district’s Latino population has been increasing steadily since the 1980s as its total population has declined. More immigrants from Latin American countries have settled in the district, and there has been an increase in births to Latina mothers compared to other racial and ethnic groups.[3] Latinos living in D.C. are more likely to be immigrants than non-Latinos, and Latino immigrants in the district are predominantly from El Salvador, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.[3] D.C. Latino households are more likely to consist of a married couple than non-Latino households, and include more children.[3]

History

The Hispanic presence in today's Washington DC is recorded at least as early as 1785, when the Spanish merchant Peter Casanave emigrated to Georgetown. In the early 90s of the 18th century, Casanave served as the fifth mayor of Georgetown. He presided over the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of the President's House, later to be known as the White House, on October 12, 1792.[4]

Demographics

The population of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the district as of July 2019 is 79,477, 11.3% of its population.[5] If treated as a category separate from race, Hispanics are the third largest minority group in DC.[6]

The district has a very diverse Hispanic population. The largest ancestry group of Hispanics as of July 2019 are of Salvadoran descent (25.1% of Hispanics and 2.8% of city's population or 19,984) followed by Dominican descent (11.6% of Hispanics and 1.3% of city's population or 9,251), Mexican descent (11.6% of Hispanics and 1.3% of city' population or 9,223), Puerto Rican descent (10.8% of Hispanics and 1.2 of city's population or 8,558), Colombian descent (6.5% of Hispanics and 0.7% of city's population or 5,145), Honduran descent (5.1% of Hispanics and 0.6% of city's population or 4,053), Peruvian descent (2.9% of Hispanics and 0.3% of city's population or 2,280), Guatemalan descent (2.3% of Hispanics and 0.3% of city's population or 1,783), Cuban descent (2.2% of Hispanics and 0.3% of city's population or 1,772), Panamanian descent (1.9% of Hispanics and 0.2% of city's population or 1,541), Argentinian descent (1.7% of Hispanics and 0.2% of city's population or 1,355), Chilean descent (1.7% of Hispanics and 0.2% of city's population or 1,311), Ecuadorian descent (1.4% of Hispanics and 0.2% of city's population or 1,099), Venezuelan descent (1.2% of Hispanics and 0.1% of city's population or 937), Bolivian (1.0% of Hispanics and 0.1% of city's population or 824), Nicaraguan descent (0.6% of Hispanics and 0.1 of city's population or 483), Costa Rican descent (0.4% of Hispanics and 0.1% of city's population or 346), Uruguayan descent (0.1% of Hispanics and 0.0% of city's population or 91), and those of other Hispanic ethnicity or of mixed Hispanic ethnicity (11.8% of Hispanics and 1.3% of city's population or 9,335).[7]

Over 800,000 Latinos live in the Washington metropolitan area. Latinos in the district have a median household income of nearly $61,000, the highest Latino income in the United States. One-fourth of Hispanic adults in the district have at least a bachelor's degree, nearly double the national Latino rate. However, there is a significant education gap in the population; the number of Hispanic adults with less than a ninth-grade education is about the same as the number with bachelor's and advanced degrees.[8]

Culture

Although the district’s Latino population has historically lived in its northwest quadrant (primarily in Wards 1, 2, and 3),[3] changes in the city’s neighbourhoods and housing market have resulted in a demographic shift. The district’s housing boom, which began in 2001 and peaked in 2006, affected Latino neighbourhoods; the Latino population has increased along Ward 4's southern border and declined in Wards 2 and 3.[3]

Hispanic plays are performed year-round at the GALA Hispanic Theatre. Cultural programs and events for the Latino community thrive across the city, including frequent concerts by Latin music artists such as Juanes, Shakira, Alejandro Fernández, Juan Gabriel, and Ricky Martin. Latinos are widely represented in the LGBT community. Hispanic television channels include Univision, Telemundo, and Azteca America, and radio stations include El Sol and Radio Viva. Latin music is heard in supermarkets and restaurants. There are about five Spanish-language newspapers, including the Washington Hispanic, El Tiempo Latino and El Pregonero.

Most government programs and facilities provide services in Spanish. The Washington Metro and Metrobus provide announcements and schedules[9] in English and Spanish.

Bilingual staff may be found in most supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, and laundromats. The Latino Federation of Greater Washington is the region's largest group of Latino organizations.

Recent Fiesta DC dates
YearDate
2012September 23[10]
2013September 22[11][12]
2014September 21[13]
2015September 22[14]
2016September 18
2017September 17[15]

Fiesta DC

Fiesta DC, an annual celebration of Latino heritage held on the third Sunday in September,[16][17] has been held for over 45 years.[18][19][20] The celebration had taken place between the 900 and 1400 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue. After the construction of Trump Tower at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fiesta DC organizers moved the festival to the area between 300 and 700 Pennsylvania Avenue. According to Fiesta DC president Maria Patricia Corrales, the move was due to the cost of installing barriers which would preserve the building's parking area.[21] A Parade of the Nations[22][23][24] takes place the day before the festival.

Education

Bilingual schools in Washington DC include Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (K-8 school), Bell Multicultural High School, and Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School (adult education). The Latin American Youth Center helps meet the educational and professional needs of young Latino students. The Ana G. Mendez University System and the Catholic University of America are the district's most accessible universities for Hispanic students. George Washington, Gallaudet Universities, University of Maryland, College Park, and George Mason University also recruit Latino students. DC's largest event to promote higher education for hispanic and latino population, the ALCANZA College Fair, in its 21st year in 2021, is located at George Mason University[25]

UniversityTotal student
population		Percentage of
students who
are Hispanic		Percentage of
graduates who
are Hispanic
George Mason University38,54214%14%[26]
Catholic University of America6,52112%14%[27]
University of Maryland, College Park38,1408%8%[28]
University of the Potomac6324%4%[29]
American University12,3134%4%[30]
Gallaudet University2,3401%1%[31]
University of the District of Columbia5,3711%1%[28]
Howard University10,3001%1%

Health

Several medical centers address the needs of the Spanish-speaking population, including La Clínica del Pueblo and the district's Office of Human Services. Centers such as the Whitman-Walker Clinic, Mary's Center, Columbia Heights Farmers Market, and Columbia Heights Clinic offer services in Spanish and programs for the Latino community. Ayuda is a Latino substance-abuse program.

Hospitals, including MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Providence Hospital, Howard University Hospital and the George Washington University Hospital, provide services in Spanish. Most district hospitals offer bilingual services, including translators and bilingual staff on call twenty-four hours a day.

Embassies

Large, white, Spanish-style building landscaped with trees
The Embassy of Bolivia, at 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW

All Latin American countries, including Cuba, have diplomatic representation in Washington. The World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States have groups and committees which gather Latinos from many countries. The Washington metropolitan area has the largest population of Salvadorans in the world outside San Salvador, and communities from Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, and other Latin American countries also exist.

Latino embassies in the district are:

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ suburbanstats.org. "Current Hispanic Or Latino Population in Washington DC 2016, 2015 with Demographics and Stats by age, gender". SuburbanStats.org. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  2. ↑ "A Quarter Of D.C. Area Residents Speak Language Other Than English At Home | WAMU". WAMU. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "State of Latinos in the District of Columbia". Urban Institute. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  4. ↑ Christopher Hodapp (2007). Solomon's Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers and the Secrets of Washington, DC. Ulysses Press, Berkeley, California. p. 146. ISBN 9781569754085.
  5. ↑ "Explore Census Data".
  6. ↑ "B03002 HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE - District of Columbia - 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. July 1, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Explore Census Data".
  8. ↑ Morello, Carol; Keating, Dan (2010-11-04). "Hispanics in Washington are the most affluent in the nation". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  9. ↑ "Metro Schedules and Maps". www.wmata.com.
  10. ↑ "Latino Festival, Fiesta D.C., Celebrates Successful Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue | Huffington Post". The Huffington Post. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "La Casa Blanca posterga fiesta latina por matanza en Washington DC". www.impactony.com. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "New York Dominicans Participate in Fiesta DC | DCiReporter". Dcireporter.com. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Fiesta DC - Capitol Hill Hotel". www.capitolhillhotel-dc.com. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "Latinos Celebrate Fiesta DC (photos) | The Georgetowner". www.georgetowner.com. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "Fiesta DC 2017". Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  16. ↑ "FIESTA DC: Festival Latino en Washington DC | Washington Hispanic". Washingtonhispanic.com. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "Miles de latinos celebran gran festival en Washington D.C." Diario Opinión (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  18. ↑ "About Us". Fiesta DC. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  19. ↑ "A Colorful Celebration of Latino Culture in Washington, D.C. (photos) | The Georgetowner". www.georgetowner.com. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  20. ↑ "Kick Off Hispanic Heritage Month This Weekend With Latina Hip-Hop and More". Washingtonian. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  21. ↑ "Trump Hotel mueve la ubicación de Fiesta DC". Washingtonhispanic.com. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  22. ↑ "Parade Guide and Map". Fiesta DC. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  23. ↑ "Celebrate Latino Culture at Fiesta DC". dc.about.com. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  24. ↑ "DC Latino Parades through the years". www.holacultura.com. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  25. ↑ "Annual ALCANZA College Fair!". gmu.edu. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  26. ↑ "George Mason University". GMU.edu. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  27. ↑ "The Catholic University of America". Forbes.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  28. 1 2 University of Maryland - College Park (January 8, 2016). "University of Maryland - College Park - Niche". Colleges.niche.com. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  29. ↑ "University of the Potomac Overview". CollegeData College Profile. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  30. ↑ American University. "American University". Niche. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  31. ↑ "2009-10 State Summary" (PDF). Gallaudet University. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
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