Hispanic Population in U.S. Passes 40 Million

The Hispanic population in the U.S. rose to an estimated 41.3 million on July 1, 2004, according to the Census Bureau, and the Hispanic growth rate for the 12 months preceding that had a growth rate of 3.6 percent, which was more than three times that of the total population (1.0 percent). Hispanics have been the largest minority group in the U.S. for the past few years. More from the Census Bureau.