An experimental methodology for estimating Hispanic residents for states and counties

Counts of the U.S. Hispanic population are available every ten years from the decennial census, but for the years following or between censuses, estimates have to be created using data and techniques that are expected to track changes in that population over time. Such estimates are a recent development and there is currently no standard methodology that has been widely used, carefully documented, and rigorously tested. In this article, we describe an experimental methodology for estimating the Hispanic population of states and counties. Postcensal data on births, deaths, and school enrollment are used for estimates of the total Hispanic population and data from the two most recent decennial censuses are used for estimates of the age, sex, and race distribution of that population. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this methodology and illustrate its application by making estimates of the Hispanic population for counties in Florida.