Texas has joined Hawaii, New Mexico and California as a majority-minority state, according to the latest Census Bureau estimates.

That means the minority populations of these four states is greater than 50 percent of the total. The same holds true for the District of Columbia. And five other states -- Maryland, Mississippi, Georgia, New York and Arizona -- are next in line with minority populations of about 40 percent or more.

According to Uncle Sam's July 2004 population estimate, Texas had a minority population of 11.3 million, comprising 50.2 percent of its total population of 22.5 million.

By comparison, 77 percent of Hawaii's population was minority as of July 2004. In New Mexico and California, the proportions were 57 percent and 56 percent, respectively, while the District of Columbia was 70 percent minority.

Race data such as this is important, not only to state and federal authorities, but also to the real estate community, which must serve the ever-growing number of minority home buyers and sellers.

With that in mind, here's some other interesting Census Bureau information concerning the various minority groupings:

• Hispanics: California had the largest Hispanic population in July 2004 (12.4 million) and the largest numerical increase (351,000) since July 2003.

  New Mexico was the state where Hispanics comprised the highest proportion of the total population (43 percent). Los Angeles County, Calif., had the largest Hispanic population (4.6 million) in 2004 and the biggest numerical increase (76,400) since July 2003.

  In case you don't know, Hispanics can be of any race.

• Blacks: New York had the largest black population, with 3.5 million. But Florida had the largest numerical increase -- 85,900 -- since July 2003.

  The District of Columbia was where blacks comprised the highest proportion of the total population (59 percent). Cook County, Ill., had the largest black population (1.4 million); and Broward County, Fla., had the largest numerical increase (17,900) between 2003 and 2004.

• Asians: California had both the largest Asian population (4.8 million) and the largest numerical increase (123,000) since July 2003.

  Hawaii was the state where Asians made up the highest proportion of the total population (58 percent). Los Angeles County, Calif., had the largest Asian population (1.4 million) and the largest numerical increase (25,200) from 2003 to 2004.

• American Indians and Alaska natives (AIANs): California had the largest population of AIANs (687,400), but Arizona had the largest numerical increase (6,400) since July 2003. Alaska also was the state where AIANs made up the highest proportion (19 percent) of the total.

  Los Angeles County had the largest population of AIANs in 2004 (153,500), but Maricopa County, Ariz., had the largest numerical increase between 2003 and 2004 (3,000).

• Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders (NHPIs): Hawaii had the largest population of NHPIs (279,700), but California had the largest numerical increase (3,400).

  Hawaii also was where NHPIs made up the largest proportion (22 percent) of the total population. Honolulu County, Hawaii, had the largest population of NHPIs (183,200) but Clark County, Nev., registered the largest numerical increase (1,100) between 2003 and 2004.

Published: September 14, 2005

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When Lew Sichelman first started writing about housing in 1969, he was the youngest real estate writer in the country. Now, 37 years later, he's one of the oldest -- and most decorated. He has been rated the top housing columnist in the country by the National Association of Realtors as well as by his peers in the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Indeed, NAREE has recognized his work on numerous occasions. One year - due to his advancing age, he can't recall which one - he earned top honors in the annual NAREE Journalism Contest in three out of the four major writing categories. It was the first time one writer has won so many NAREE awards in a single year. Known for his ability to make even the most difficult topics understandable, Sichelman also has been honored by the National Association of Home Builders and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He began providing in-depth coverage of and consumer-oriented information about housing and housing finance at the Washington Daily News, where he was real estate editor. He held that same position for nine more years at the Washington Star, which purchased the News in 1972. The Star, a so-called "writer's newspaper" which also had the misfortune of being an evening paper, was put out of its misery in 1981, and Sichelman, who had begun self-syndicating his column in 1978, decided to become a full-time columnist. Today, his column, "The Housing Scene," is distributed by United Media to newspapers throughout the country. He also is on the staff of National Mortgage News, an independent newspaper which is considered the bible of the mortgage business. And he writes for numerous other publications, including MarketWatch.com, where he answers readers questions once a week, Sports Illustrated (don't ask), RealtyTimes.com, BigBuilder and others. Sichelman is married, the father of five and grandfather of eleven.