USC Demographic Study Makes Leno Monologue

A new report offers a unique view of California's demographic future, including how the state’s population has changed in the last 25 years.

2 minute read

February 1, 2005, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

From Jay Leno's Late Night opening monologue:

"Researchers at USC report that foreign immigration to California will slow down over the next twenty-five years. Of course it will slow down. Don't you think that's because maybe everybody is here already?!"

The new report, from USC's School of Policy, Planning & Development, is titled "California Demographic Futures: Projections to 2030, by Immigrant Generations, Nativity, and Time of Arrival in U.S." The report offers a "mid-decade view of California's demographic future, including how the states population has changed in the last 25 years, a detailed profile of the current situation, and a new projection of changes in the coming 25years, to 2030.

Knowledge about Latinos is clouded by lack of knowledge about immigration,growing length of settlement and the new second generation. Understanding ofthe immigrant contribution to the future is weak at best: trends are only known through 2000 or 2004 because there are no projections of the foreign-born population. Without such information on the numbers of immigrants, their characteristics, and their children, over a long period of time, we cannot understand or prepare for the likely consequences of the changes under way today."

Among the findings:

The growth of Californias foreign-born population is slowing.

The growth of the second generation is accelerating.

"The second generation is going to be the dominant population for the quarter century. Latinos are growing in numbers because of the settled immigrants' children. The children of immigrants are impacted, but numbers alone don't make an impact -- they have not yet been felt," said one of the authors, Dowell Myers, professor of urban planning and demography in the School of Policy, Planning and Development.

[Editor's note: The link below is to a PDF of the study. Additional general information is available on the California Demographic Futures website.]

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: California Demographic Futures: Projections to 2030, by Immigrant Generations, Nativity, and Time of Arrival in U.S.

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 in University Of Southern California

Community / Economic Development California

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.