My Community

I live in Louisville, Kentucky one of the most diversified cities in the United States. Our States motto is, “United we stand, divided we fall”. Every year our city celebrates all of unique cultures in our community with our annual WorldFest. WorldFest brings together the largest collection of local ethnic restaurants, vendors and exhibitors. The celebration offers a large variety of cuisines, crafts and educational possibilities. The celebration allows people to become more familiar with the International Community while honoring the traditions of our past and our future. In 2007 WorldFest drew over 100,000 people over the course of two days.

In Louisvile the largest ancestry groups are: American (20.9%) (Mostly of British ancestry), German (12.7%), Irish (10.5%), English (9.7%), African American (7.8%). Louisville has been divers tied for a long time. Per the 2000 resident census, the population in Kentucky was 4,041,769. White: 3,640,889 (90.1%); Black: 295,994 (7.3%); American Indian: 8,616 (0.2%); Asian: 29,744 (0.7%); Other race: 22,623 (0.6%); Two or more races: 42,443 (1.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 59,939 (1.5%). Figure 1, shows Profile of General Demographic Characteristics for the city of Louisville: 2000 census and figure 2, shows the population shift for the State of Kentucky between 200 to 2005.

Figure 1

Geographic Area: Louisville city, Kentucky

Subject Number Percent

Total population 256,231 100

RACE

One race 251,950 98.3

White 161,261 62.9

Black or African American 84,586 33

American Indian and Alaska Native 578 0.2

Asian 3,705 1.4

Asian Indian 484 0.2

Chinese 454 0.2

Filipino 270 0.1

Japanese 130 0.1

Korean 372 0.1

Vietnamese 1,699 0.7

Other Asian 1 296 0.1

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 111 0

Native Hawaiian 43 0

Guamanian or Chamorro 17 0

Samoan 16 0

Other Pacific Islander 2 35 0

Some other race 1,709 0.7

Two or more races 4,281 1.7

Race alone or in combination with one or more other races 3

White 164,602 64.2

Black or African American 86,831 33.9

American Indian and Alaska Native 1,799 0.7

Asian 4,435 1.7

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 292 0.1

Some other race 2,947 1.2

HISPANIC OR LATINO AND RACE

Total population 256,231 100

Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 4,755 1.9

Mexican 1,557 0.6

Puerto Rican 442 0.2

Cuban 1,461 0.6

Other Hispanic or Latino 1,295 0.5

Not Hispanic or Latino 251,476 98.1

White alone 158,651 61.9

(X) Not applicable

1 Other Asian alone, or two or more Asian categories.

2 Other Pacific Islander alone, or two or more Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander categories.

3 In combination with one or more other races listed. The six numbers may add to more than the total population and the six percentages may add to more than 100 percent because individuals may report more than one race.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1, Matrices P1, P3, P4, P8, P9, P12, P13, P,17, P18, P19, P20, P23, P27, P28, P33, PCT5, PCT8, PCT11, PCT15, H1, H3, H4, H5, H11, and H12.

Figure 2

Demographics of Kentucky (csv)

By race

White Black AIAN Asian NHPI

AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native вЂ" NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

2000 (total population) 91.53% 7.76% 0.61% 0.92% 0.08%

2000 (Hispanic only) 1.35% 0.10% 0.04% 0.02% 0.01%

2005 (total population) 91.27% 7.98% 0.58% 1.10% 0.08%

2005 (Hispanic only) 1.80% 0.12% 0.04% 0.03% 0.01%

Growth 2000вЂ"2005 (total population) 2.97% 6.16% -2.21% 23.46% 9.78%

Growth 2000вЂ"2005 (non-Hispanic only) 2.44% 5.94% -3.28% 23.07% 7.98%

Growth 2000вЂ"2005 (Hispanic only) 37.97% 22.34% 13.51% 38.48% 19.80%

In 2006, Louisville was presented with the National League of Cities Cultural Diversity Award; this award was given to the city for having and accepting so many immigrants and refugees with open arms. Over the past 15 years, immigrants and refugees account for more than 50 percent of Louisville’s total population growth. Currently more than 80 languages are spoken in the Jefferson County Public Schools (2006).

The members of my community come in all different races and ethnicities; my community is a true melting pot. We have Whites, African Americans, Asians Americans, Hispanics, and a variety of other races. We all look the same because we are human being and have the same community concerns. We may have different religions and cultures, but there are no problems because we respect each others differences. The differences is what make our community great, in one area you can find stores the sale African items,