Wisconsin Minority Health Program
Minority Populations in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Minority Health Program targets four diverse racial and ethnic
minority populations-- African American, Hispanic / Latino, Southeast Asian and American
Indian. Together, these four groups are estimated at 12% of Wisconsin's total population, and
they are the referent populations in all data, programs, funding and initiatives of the
Minority Health Program. The target populations are subject to change based on emerging
trends in health disparities and the stated population focus of the federal Department of
Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health and other federal, national, state
and local initiatives.
Wisconsin's Minority Populations
(number and percentage of total population)*
*Source: United States Census Bureau 2000 State Population
(2000 Wisconsin population: 5,363,675)
African American refers
to persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Over 95% of African
Americans in Wisconsin reside in Milwaukee, Racine, Dane, Rock and Kenosha counties.
Hispanic or Latino
refers to persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other
Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. Mexican Americans constitute over 60% of
identified Hispanics or Latinos in Wisconsin. Sizeable numbers of Puerto Ricans and Cubans are
also noted. Hispanics and Latinos are concentrated in Milwaukee, Racine, Dane,
Waukesha, and Kenosha counties, but pockets are rapidly emerging in other geographic regions
of the state--as much as a 64% increase in some areas since the 1990 Census.
Southeast Asian refers
primarily to persons having origins in any of the original peoples and inhabitants of the
Southeast Asian countries of Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. In
Wisconsin, over 70% of
Southeast Asians are Hmong refugees and their descendants who emigrated to
Wisconsin beginning in
the 1970s. Southeast Asians tend to be concentrated in selected counties across the state,
especially Milwaukee, Dane, Waukesha, Brown, La Crosse, Marathon, Sheboygan, Eau Claire,
Outagamie and Winnebago counties.
American Indian refers to persons
having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including
Central America) and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. The 11
federally recognized tribal nations in Wisconsin are as follows: Bad River Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa; Forest County Potawatomi; Ho-Chunk Nation; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Menominee Nation;
Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; St. Croix Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa; Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; and Stockbridge-Munsee Band
of Mohican Indians. Milwaukee County has the largest population of American Indians in
Wisconsin. Significant numbers also reside in Menominee, Sawyer, Brown, Outagamie,
Shawano, Vilas, Dane, Ashland and Bayfield counties.
If you have any comments about this page or suggestions for improving it,
please write to Evelyn Cruz.
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Last Revised: December 10, 2007 |
