As Houston’s population grows rapidly, the cultural and demographic make-up of the country’s fourth largest city is evolving.

Downtown Houston - Image by Murat Taner/Corbis

The U.S. Census Bureau gradually released data last month from it’s 2010 polling. After Chicago (No. 3 most populous city), lost 200,000 residents from 2000, experts speculated that the growing Houston metro could surpass the Windy City. With Houston’s official population reported at 2.09 million, it remains No. 4, but the vibrant growth marks a time of change in the Space City.

Thirty years ago, the 1980 census showed Houston having a population of 1,595,138. Predominately White at the time, the city’s 834,061 Caucasians accounted for 52.3 percent of the population. In 2010, Whites accounted for 25.6 percent of Houston’s 2.09 million. Hispanic or Latino peoples now account for 43.8 percent, with Blacks at 25.6 percent, Asians at 6.1 percent and ‘Other’ races at 1.3 percent.

According to 2010.census.gov/, Texas’ most populous county is Houston’s Harris County. With 4,092,459 residents, Harris expanded 20.3 since 2000.

For more demographics on Houston, visit: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Demographics/demog_links.html.