Work Casual is "Native Dress"?

Hispanics exceed Anglos in Harris County Census shows area leads the nation in growth of minorities By JAMES PINKERTON and ERIC HANSON

In a powerful sign of the region's growing diversity, more Hispanics than Anglos now live in Harris County as it led the nation in growth of minority residents, according to Census Bureau estimates to be released today.

This historic demographic shift reflects persistent immigration, high birth rates among Latinos and ongoing migration to outlying suburban counties, experts say. And a dramatic increase in Harris County's black population is partly attributed to an influx of residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

''All you have to do is go down to Southwest Houston, which is like our Ellis Island, and see who is standing at the bus stops," said Joe Rubio, vice president of Community Relations for Catholic Charities. ''You'll see people in native dress from all over the world."

As one who spends time at bus stops in the Ellis Island of Southwest Houston, I suddenly feel compelled to don a sombrero just to maintain appearances. I've actually been devoting some time to a few cartographic/demographic items. I'm not sure the Hispanic population news means the same thing to everyone. We all know to some degree how distributed the Hispanic population is in the county, but I have a hunch that the degree of that distribution would hit a few folks as a surprise.