By Paul Tuthill
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Boston, MA – After decades of people fleeing to the suburbs, the urban centers of Massachusetts experienced population growth over the last ten years , according to new US Census data. Massachusetts also saw a dramatic surge in residents who are Hispanic and Asian WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports
The five largest cities in Massachusetts all grew a bit larger over the last decade. Boston and Worcester led the way with population gains of nearly 5 percent each according to the 2010 US Census data released Tuesday.
The state's chief information officer, Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Galvin described the growth as vibrant .
But while the big cities and Central Massachusetts saw population increases, Berkshire and Franklin Counties in Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod recorded fewer people than they had a decade ago
To try and ensure an accurate result in the 2010 Census, many communities especially the cities organized campaigns to reach out to typically hard to count populations..including immigrants, non-English speaking people, and single mothers.. Galvin says it appears the efforts paid off..
Springfield's official population of 153 thousand 60, keeps it above a key benchmark, according to Tom Walsh..a spokesman for Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno
Most striking to analyst looking at the new Census data for the first time was the growth in the minority populations in Massachusetts. The Asian and Hispanic populations both grew by 46 percent and the Black population grew by 26 percent. The number of minorities rose from one million in 2000 to one million four hundred thousand in 2010. The white population fell by two percent, but white still make up 80 percent of the state's total population.
The surge in the number of Hispanic residents did not surprise Carlos Gonzalez, president of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce
Gonzalez attributes the growth in the state's Hispanic population to an increase in Latino owned small businesses and in educational opportunities..
The growth in the state's minority populations will have to be taken into account when new Congressional and legislative districts are created , according to State Senator Stanley Rosenberg of Amherst, who co-chairs the legislatures redistricting committee
Rosenberg cautioned against drawing any conclusions from the Census data about the how the state will eliminate one of its ten Congressional seats. Massachusetts is losing a seat in the US House because its population did not grow as fast as some other states