Suburbs Diversifying in Age and Race

In suburbs,'disparities in age and ethnicity are...creating the potential for competition over money for education, transportation, senior centers and child care.'

1 minute read

September 3, 2003, 8:00 AM PDT

By Connie Chung


"Little more than a generation ago, suburbs tended to be homogeneous enclaves populated mostly by young, white families whose tricycles and station wagons filled the driveways and tree-lined roads. But in the 21st century, suburbia is being remade as it becomes older and more diverse. For the first time in history in 2000, more than half of the people in the USA 50.5% were 35 or older. That age group is growing fastest in the suburbs, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. Only 46.3% of people in cities are 35 or older, compared with 51.3% of suburbanites. At the same time, growing numbers of minorities and immigrants are settling into suburbs. A unique intersection of age, race and class is emerging in suburbia, particularly in California and the Southwest, demographers say. In those areas, Latinos and Asians are becoming the majority of the young, while those 35 and older are predominantly white....Demographers say that "the suburbs may not be ready to deal with changes."

Thanks to Connie Chung

Monday, September 1, 2003 in USA Today

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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