'Melting-Pot Suburbs' Growing in Prominence

William Frey explains the growing prominence of what he terms "melting pot suburbs," noting that more cities are coming to reflect the rest of American society with respect to race. "In 36 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas," Frey writes, "minorities represent at least 35 percent of the suburban population, approximately the same share as the nation. Within these, 16 have majority-minority populations, up from just eight in 2000."

After noting that most of the melting pot suburbs are located in the South and West (the few exceptions include suburban areas outside of New York and Chicago), Frey goes on to point a few of the implications of the new demographic realities of so many American cities, including "greater demands for services needed by new populations, particularly those with different economic circumstances and cultural linguistic backgrounds." The new paradigm of suburban diversity could also have implications in politics, as electoral battlegrounds shift in response to the new demographics.