WASHINGTON DC - The number of Hispanics counted in the 2010 Census has been larger than expected in most states for which the Census Bureau has released detailed population totals so far, according to an analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center.

The latest 2010 U.S. Census data reveals a steady growth momentum in the Hispanic population across the United States, according to statistics just released for Arizona, Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Wisconsin.
Hispanic population nearly 39 million in the 33 states released, accounting for 58 percent of U.S. population growth.

"The latest state-by-state U.S. Census figures continue to show the incredible double-digit growth the Hispanic population is fueling in states across our country," said Maura Lozano-Yancy president and group publisher of Hola! Arkansas Hispanic Media & Publishing Co.
The gap between the Census 2010 count and Census Bureau population estimates has been widest in states with relatively small Hispanic populations.

Those states' combined Census 2010 was higher by 590,000 people (or 1.5%) than the bureau's own estimates for those states. Census counts for Hispanics in the remaining states will be released by the end of March.

According to Census 2010:
• In Arkansas, the Hispanic population is up 114.2 percent since Census 2000.

• Hispanics contributed 48 percent of the population growth in Arizona. 1 out of every 2 individuals added to Arizona's population in the last decade is of Hispanic origin.

• The Hispanic population in Connecticut grew nearly 50 percent in the last 10 years with Latinos accounting for 61 percent of the minority growth in the state.

• In Ohio, Hispanics are growing faster than any other demographic in the state. In fact, the Hispanic population grew 63 percent since Census 2000.

• The Hispanic ...