Political Rewind: Census Reveals Nation's Shifting Demographics, And Georgia Is No Different
Friday on Political Rewind: Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals Georgia grew in ethnic\xa0and racial\xa0diversity\xa0over the past decade, while the share of the population living in rural areas of the state\xa0shrank compared\xa0to urban counties.\xa0\n\nThe state's demographic shifts mirror broad changes happening across the country. Nationwide,\xa0data revealed more\xa0Americans are moving into cities and suburbs while a decreasing number identified as white.\n\nIn Georgia, the census data showed the percentages of Hispanic, Black and Asian-Americans Georgians\xa0grew\xa0by double digits.\xa0Georgians identifying as white stands at 50.1% of the state\u2019s population, down from around 60% in the 2010\xa0census report.\n\nThe metro Atlanta area saw\xa0rapid changes\xa0over the past decade. In the 29 counties of\xa0the\xa0Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area, covering much of north Georgia, the percentage of residents identifying as white was around 44% in 2020, down from 51%\xa0in the 2010 census.\n\n"I think it's the type of trend that will continue to build on itself when communities are now known as being majority-minority and are attracting minority families for the schools, for the lower cost housing and are a diverse community that is successful," Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Patricia Murphy said.\n\nA lack of economic opportunity could be one of the major forces pushing\xa0Georgians out of rural areas. Former state\xa0Attorney General Sam Olens said the movement of people to urban areas has been happening for decades and could be\xa0counteracted by state and federal investment in rural infrastructure.\n\n"This isn't a brand-new phenomenon," Olens said.\xa0"The most promising news for rural Georgia would be the new emphasis on broadband.\xa0It is really hard to get the quality businesses they want and to keep the young people they want to retain without broadband."\n\nThe demographic trends suggest a major shift in political power could be underway. During this fall's\xa0consequential redistricting process, lawmakers will redraw the lines of legislative districts in Georgia using\xa0the new census data.\n\nWe\xa0asked our panel how they think the census report will shape state and national politics in the next decade.\n\nPanelists:\n\nSam Olens\xa0\u2014\xa0Former Georgia attorney general\n\nMichael Thurmond \u2014\xa0DeKalb County CEO\n\nPatricia Murphy\xa0\u2014\xa0Political reporter and columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution