Persons of Spanish Origin in the United States: March 1977. Population Characteristics. Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 329.

In this report, demographic, social and economic data for the population of Spanish origin and its subcategories (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American) in the United States are tabulated. Specific information is provided concerning such characteristics as age, sex, residence, educational attainment, income, employment, occupation, marital status, selected family characteristics, and population size and distribution. Findings include the following: (1) 42% of all persons of Spanish origin were under 18 years old; (2) the median age for persons of Spanish origin is 22 years old, as opposed to 30 years old for the non-Spanish population; (3) there was a greater proportion of single men than single women in Spanish communities; (4) persons of Spanish origin 25 years old and over were still at a lower educational level than persons of non-Spanish origin; (5) the proportion of unemployed among people of Spanish origin was significantly higher than the proportion of unemployed in the general population; (6) the reported incomes of Spanish men were significantly lower than the incomes of men not of Spanish origin; and (7) in 1976, 23% of all Spanish families were living below the poverty level. Numerous charts and tables list characteristics of the Spanish population and, in some cases, compare present findings to those of the 1970 Census. Definitions of all terminology and a description of sources and reliability factors of this survey are provided in a detailed appendix. (WI)