New Census data shows steady Hispanic population growth across Charlotte, suburbs
Population diversity continues to spread beyond Mecklenburg County, specifically within the Hispanic community in the suburbs, new census estimates show.
In the past four years, the Hispanic population has increased by a combined 22% across Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union Counties, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday.
It’s an increase from about 288,000 people in 2020 to over 352,000 last year.
The vast majority of the Hispanic population in the region resides in Mecklenburg, according to Census Bureau estimates. Almost 205,000 Hispanics live in Mecklenburg, the data shows, or about 58% of the region’s population of Latinos.
But the population’s growth is occurring at higher rates in the surrounding counties.
For instance, Lincoln County’s Hispanic population growth rate topped the other counties, increasing by 33% from 2020 to last year.
In Gaston and Iredell counties, the Hispanic-only population outpaced topped all other races or ethnicities, growing by 32.5% and 31.4% respectively, across the four-year span.
The data spans from July 2020 to last July. While census participants are asked about their racial and ethnic background, the agency never asks about residency status.
Asian and Native Americans continue to diversify
Hispanic population growth remains a constant in the Charlotte region, fueled by community, affordability and job opportunities.
Historically, the population would settle in port cities such as New York or Florida. But as those cities become more expensive, the population has traveled to the middle for more affordable options.
But close behind the Hispanic population, more Asian and Native Americans are calling the region home.
Both groups have smaller populations, compared to white, Black and Hispanic residents. So contextually, their population growth percentage numbers are extremely high throughout some parts of the seven counties.
However, growth is occurring.
The Asian population in Cabarrus and Union counties more than doubled from 2020 to last year, increasing by 60.8% and 67% respectively.
But again, the Asian population is the second smallest group in both counties. In Cabarrus, the population grew from 11,905 to 19,149. And in Union County, the population grew from 9,342 to 15,603
The Asian population represents about 6% of Union County’s total population last year, and about 8% of Cabarrus’ population.
For Native Americans, or American Indian and Alaska Natives as they are labeled by the Census Bureau, Mecklenburg County saw the highest growth in the region for that population. In the past four years, that population has increased from 10,003 to 13,287, or by about 33%.
Native Americans represented 1% of Mecklenburg’s total population last year.
Here are some other census findings
▪ Cabarrus County saw a 94-person drop in the number of white residents from 2020 to 2024.
▪ Lincoln County had the largest jump in its Black population, with an increase of 28% in the past four years.
▪ Lincoln County’s Native population was the only group to see no change from 2023 to last year. The population remained at 524 people.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
