By Glenn Rolfe

Delaware’s population grew at more than 10% over the past decade, spurred by minorities, particularly the Hispanic population, according to the 2020 U.S. census.

Census data released this week — necessary to rework voting boundaries for House of Representative and Senate districts throughout the state — shows that Sussex and New Castle counties experienced the largest Hispanic/Latino population gains. Sussex went from 8.6% in 2010 to 11.3% in 2020, while New Castle increased from 8.7% to 11.1%.

The state’s Hispanic population increased from 8.2% in 2010 to 10.5% last year. The Black/African American population increased at a slower rate, from 20.8% to 21.5% over that 10-year period, according to census data.

Meanwhile, Delaware’s White population decreased from 65.3% in 2010 to 58.6% in 2020. The White population percentage in Kent County dropped from 65.2% to 57.7%, while New Castle decreased from 61.6% to 53.1%. The White population for Sussex was 72.3% in 2020, down from 75.6% in 2010.

Nationwide, the Hispanic boom accounted for nearly half the overall U.S. population growth, which was the slowest since the Great Depression. By comparison, the non-Hispanic growth rate over the decade was 4.3%. The Hispanic share of the U.S. population grew to 18.7%, up from 16.3% in 2010.

Data from the last year’s census will be used to redraw electoral boundaries for Delaware’s 41 House of Representative seats and 21 Senate districts. Redistricting is also implemented at the county level, including Sussex County’s five voting areas.

Over the past decade, Delaware’s population increased by 92,014, from 897,934 in 2010 to 989,948 in 2020.

Census data shows that Sussex County experienced the greatest population growth in the state, with an increase of 40,333 to 237,378 — a gain of 20.4% from the 2010 numbers.
Neighboring Kent County saw a 12% increase of 19,541, from 162,310 to 181,851, while New Castle County experienced only a 6% population gain of 32,240 to 570,719.

Other 2020 census information for Delaware includes:

• Persons under 18 — 20.9%.
• Persons 65 and older — 19.4%.
• Females, percentage of population — 51.7%.
• Persons in poverty — 11.3%.
• Households with computer — 91.6%.
• Persons per house — 2.57.
• Median value of an owner-occupied home — $251,000.
• Veterans — 65,438.
• High school graduate or higher, percent of persons 25 or older — 90%.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons 25 or older — 32%.
• Total percentage of population 16 or older in civilian labor force — 62%.