When asking which country most people in the United States who identify as Hispanic have ancestry from, the answer is clear: Mexico. However, the full story of Hispanic heritage in America reveals a rich tapestry of diverse origins spanning Latin America and the Caribbean.
A Social Explorer analysis of the 2019-23 American Community Survey demonstrates that while Mexican ancestry dominates the Hispanic population across the United States, the Hispanic community is far from monolithic. This diversity has significant implications as immigration enforcement efforts have increasingly focused attention on Hispanic communities nationwide.
The Growth of the Hispanic Population in America
The Hispanic population represents one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in United States history. The numbers tell a compelling story of exponential growth:
- 1980: 14.6 million Hispanic residents (6.5% of total U.S. population) – the first year the Census Bureau attempted to count all Hispanic residents
- 2023: More than 63 million Hispanic residents (19% of total U.S. population)
- This represents more than a 330% increase over just four decades
Mexican Ancestry: The Dominant Hispanic Origin
People who identify as having Mexican origins constitute the largest share of the Hispanic population in the United States by a substantial margin. The data reveals Mexican ancestry's widespread presence:
Geographic Reach:
- Mexican-origin individuals make up the majority of Hispanics in 2,600 U.S. counties out of 3,129 counties with Hispanic populations
- This represents approximately 83% of all counties with Hispanic residents
Major Metropolitan Areas with Mexican-Origin Majorities:
- Los Angeles County, California: 35.5% of total population
- Maricopa County, Arizona: 26.2% of total population
- Harris County, Texas: 26.9% of total population
- Cook County, Illinois: 20% of total population
- Denver County, Colorado: 20.9% of total population
Other Established Hispanic Populations: Caribbean Origins
While Mexican ancestry dominates nationally, other Hispanic-origin groups maintain strong regional presences, particularly those from Caribbean nations with long-established U.S. migration patterns.
Puerto Rican Ancestry
Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens by birth, represent the second-largest Hispanic origin group by geographic distribution:
Counties Where Puerto Ricans Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 250 U.S. counties total
- Orange County, Florida: 13.9% of total population
- Kings County, New York: 5.2% of total population
Cuban Ancestry
Cuban Americans have historically concentrated in specific regions, particularly Florida:
Counties Where Cubans Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 19 U.S. counties total
- Miami-Dade County, Florida: 35% of total population
Dominican Ancestry
Dominican Americans have established significant communities primarily in the Northeast:
Counties Where Dominicans Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 13 U.S. counties total
- Bronx County, New York: 23.4% of total population
- New York County, New York: 10% of total population
- Skagway Municipality, Alaska: 2.5% of total population
Central American Ancestry: Recent Growth and Distribution
More recent immigration waves have brought significant populations from Central American countries, creating new Hispanic majority communities across the United States.
Guatemalan Ancestry
Counties Where Guatemalans Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 26 U.S. counties total
- Mercer County, New Jersey: 5.2% of total population
- Richmond City, Virginia: 2.3% of total population
Salvadoran Ancestry
Counties Where Salvadorans Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 25 U.S. counties total
- Nassau County, New York: 4.2% of total population
- District of Columbia: 2.7% of total population
Honduran Ancestry
Counties Where Hondurans Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 18 U.S. counties total
- Roanoke City, Virginia: 2.6% of total population
- Orleans Parish, Louisiana: 1.8% of total population
Other Central American Origins
Nicaraguan Ancestry:
- Majority Hispanic group in 1 rural U.S. county: Chariton County, Missouri (0.4% of total population)
Costa Rican Ancestry:
- Majority Hispanic group in 3 rural U.S. counties:
- Daniels County, Montana: 1.6% of total population
- Mercer County, North Dakota: 1% of total population
- Shelby County, Missouri: 0.8% of total population
South American Ancestry: Smaller but Significant Populations
People identifying with South American origins represent a smaller portion of Hispanic majorities across U.S. counties, appearing as the dominant Hispanic group in only 11 counties nationwide.
Venezuelan Ancestry
Counties Where Venezuelans Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 3 rural counties total:
- Wahkiakum County, Washington: 2.8% of total population
- Wabash County, Illinois: 0.7% of total population
- Tucker County, West Virginia: 0.2% of total population
Peruvian Ancestry
Counties Where Peruvians Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 3 U.S. counties total:
- Leake County, Mississippi: 2.1% of total population
- Boyd County, Nebraska: 2% of total population
- Lake of the Woods, Minnesota: 0.4% of total population
Colombian Ancestry
Counties Where Colombians Are the Majority Hispanic Group:
- 2 U.S. counties total:
- Otoe County, Nebraska: 3.1% of total population
- Steele County, North Dakota: 1.1% of total population
Single-County Majorities
Countries with Hispanic-Origin Majorities in Only One U.S. County:
- Argentine ancestry: Foster County, North Dakota (0.5% of total population)
- Bolivian ancestry: Clark County, Missouri (0.5% of total population)
- Uruguayan ancestry: Dukes County, Massachusetts (1.4% of total population)
Countries Without County Majorities
Four countries tracked by the Census Bureau have populations in the U.S. but do not constitute the majority of Hispanic residents in any county:
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Panama
- Paraguay
Conclusion: Diversity Within Unity
To answer the question "Which country do most people in the United States who identify as Hispanic have ancestry from?" – the answer is definitively Mexico, with Mexican-origin individuals representing the majority of Hispanics in 83% of U.S. counties with Hispanic populations.
However, this numerical dominance should not obscure the remarkable diversity within the Hispanic community, which includes substantial populations from Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and numerous Central and South American nations. Each group brings distinct cultural traditions, migration histories, and geographic settlement patterns that enrich the American social fabric. Understanding this diversity is essential for policymakers, community organizations, and all Americans as the nation continues to evolve as an increasingly multicultural society.
Explore Demographics in Your Community with Social Explorer
The geographic distribution patterns revealed in this analysis represent just one facet of America's rich demographic tapestry. If you're curious about the ethnic composition and ancestry patterns in your own community or county, Social Explorer's demographic mapping software provides powerful tools to visualize and analyze population data across the United States.
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