The Associated Press
and the Cincinnati Enquirer

Asians and Hispanics in Ohio are following a well-worn demographic trend, according to census estimates released Thursday. They're heading for the suburbs.

Ohio's Asian population jumped 15 percent from 2000 to 2002, with booming suburban areas like Warren County leading the way, the figures show.

Warren, the state's second fastest-growing county, added 1,238 Asian residents between 2000 and 2002 - a 60.7 percent increase. Hamilton County saw a larger increase in the numbers of Asians, with 1,529, but the percentage increase was only 11 percent.

Ohio had about 11.4 million residents last year, a 0.5 percent increase above 2000, according to census figures. The state's white population of 9.6 million edged up just 0.1 percent, the black population of 1.3 million just 0.9 percent.

The 15 percent increase in Ohio's Asian population represented the addition of about 21,000 people over two years, the figures show. However, Asians still make up only about 1 percent of the state's population.

Ohio's Hispanic population grew 4.4 percent to about 230,000 people, or about 2 percent of the population.

The Hispanic population in Warren County jumped by 22 percent or 366 people. It rose 10 percent or 486 in Butler County. The rise in Clermont County mirrored the statewide average, while the population in Hamilton County was essentially unchanged (up 15 people).