The Hispanic population in Houston is increasing as more immigrants from Latin American countries come to work in the area. As of 2006 the city has the third-largest Hispanic population in the United States. As of 2011, the city is 44% Hispanic. As of 2011, of the city's U.S. citizens that are Hispanic, half are age 18 or older, and are therefore at the age range eligible to vote. many Hispanics in Houston are not U.S. citizens, especially those living in Gulfton and Spring Branch, and are therefore ineligible to vote in elections. As a result, Hispanics have proportionally less representation in the municipal government than other ethnic groups. As of April 2011 two of the Houston City Council members are Hispanic, making up 18% of the council.Casey, Rick. "City Hall Latino win may end up as a loss instead," Houston Chronicle. April 28, 2011. Retrieved on June 6, 2011. "The biggest factor is that while Houston is now about 44 percent Hispanic, only about half are citizens of voting age. Many are not citizens, especially in the Gulfton and Spring Branch areas."

As of 2010, John B. Strait and Gang Gong, authors of "Ethnic Diversity in Houston, Texas: The Evolution of Residential Segregation in the Bayou City, 1990–2000," stated that Hispanics and Latinos had "intermediate levels of segregation" from non-Hispanic whites.Strait, John B; Gong, Gang. "Ethnic Diversity in Houston, Texas: The Evolution of Residential Segregation in the Bayou City, 1990–2000." Population Review, 2010, Vol.49(1). cited: p. 58.

As of 2006 Karl Eschbach, a University of Texas Medical Branch demographer, said that the number of illegal (undocumented) immigrants in the Houston area was estimated at 400,000.Hegstrom, Edward. "Shadows cloaking immigrants prevent accurate count.", Houston Chronicle (February 21, 2006).

History

In the early 1980s, there were 300,000 native Hispanics, and an estimated 80,000 illegal immigrants from Mexico in Houston.Rodriguez, Nestor, "Undocumented Central Americans in Houston: Diverse Populations," p. 4. In 1985, Harris County had about 500,000 Hispanics.Rodriguez, Lori. "Targeting Spanish-speaking riders, Taxis Fiesta's business blossoms as Hispanic communities spread across the city / Latino growth drives cab boom," ( Archive.is) Houston Chronicle, November 28, 2005. B1 MetFront. Retrieved on December 31, 2011. Available from the Houston Public Library newspapers section, accessible online with an HPL library card and a PIN. Quote: "Since 1985, said Eschbach, the Hispanic population has tripled, and now two of every five Harris County residents are Hispanic. Hispanics are becoming the dominant population group in most areas out to and past Beltway 8. The exceptions are the historically black neighborhoods northeast and south of downtown and high-dollar white communities from West University Place through Uptown and Memorial."

In 1990, there were 192,220 foreign-born Hispanic residents of Houston, with 132,596, or 69%, being Mexican immigrants. 39,289 were from Central America, 12,250 were from South America, and 8,085 were from Caribbean nations.Rodriguez, Nestor, "Hispanic and Asian Immigration Waves in Houston," p. 33. The 1990 U.S. Census said that, of the adult Houstonians who use bicycles to get to work, 32% are Hispanic. In 1997, Hispanic men tended to use bicycles more than did women. Due to Latin American social customs, Hispanic women tended to walk, or use public buses when traveling for goods or work; otherwise they stayed at home.Kolker, Claudia. "Carless in Houston/POVERTY'S RIDE/For some, bicycling sole means of transportation," Houston Chronicle, June 18, 1997. A1. Retrieved on December 31, 2011.

In 1995 about 100,000 immigrants from Central America resided in Houston.Morris, Jim. "EASY PREY/LIFE ON THE EDGE/ The powerless often are forced into apartments that defy city housing codes and, in some cases, belief." Houston Chronicle. Sunday March 26, 1995. A1. Retrieved on December 30, 2011. As of 2001, Hispanics were almost 38% of Houston's population and 8% of the city's voting electorate.Rodriguez, Lori. "Sanchez's mayoral bid targets disparate voters." Houston Chronicle. Sunday October 7, 2001. A1. Retrieved on October 27, 2011.

Economy

In 1991, most Hispanic-owned businesses in Greater Houston were in industries with lower profit margins, such as construction, distribution, and services. The largest Hispanic-owned business was RioStar Corp., which operated Ninfa's. The business generating the highest number of sales was Solvents & Chemicals and Packaging Services of Pearland, Texas.Boisseau, Charles. "Hispanic companies thriving/Houston has 26 of top 500 firms," Houston Chronicle. Friday, May 31, 1991. Business 1. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.

Fiesta Mart was established in 1972 by two non-Hispanic white men;Wollam, Allison. "Grocers Supply may bag Fiesta Mart in acquisition deal." Houston Business Journal. Friday, August 24, 2004. Retrieved on July 7, 2010. "The grocer now caters to more second and third-generation Hispanic Americans." one of them, Donald Bonham, wished to create a store serving Hispanic and Latino customers. Allison Wollam of the Houston Business Journal said "The company has been successful at targeting the Hispanic market and specifically catering to their needs and shopping styles." Bernie Murphy, a spokesperson for Fiesta, said in 2006 that at some stores Hispanics make up to 70% of those stores's clientele."H-E-B Opens Mi Tienda Format in Pasadena ." The Gourmet Retailer. October 5, 2006. Retrieved on July 17, 2011. For a period it was the sole major chain catering to Hispanics and Latinos. By 2015 Fiesta experienced serious competition as other chains began targeting Hispanics and Latinos.

In 2003 Kroger converted its Gulfton location into a Hispanic-themed supermarket. In December 2010 Kroger announced that the Gulfton Kroger would close by the end of January, as it has been an under-performing store. Kroger owned the store location, and the chain was considering selling it to another grocery chain.Kaplan, David. "For Kroger, upgrades are in store." Houston Chronicle. December 31, 2010. Retrieved on February 23, 2011.

In 2006 H-E-B opened the "Mi Tienda" ("My Store") Hispanic-themed store in the City of South Houston, near Pasadena. As of 2007 all of its employees spoke Spanish. Another Mi Tienda opened in north Houston in 2011; it is twice the size of the original location, and has of space. H-E-B-owned Joe V's Smart Shop also targets Hispanic and Latino consumers.

In April 2009 Wal-Mart opened the "Supermercado de Walmart," a store designed to appeal to Hispanic customers, in Spring Branch. Converted from a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, it was the first "Supermercado de Walmart" opened by the company in the United States. June 2009 Wal-Mart was scheduled to open Más Club, a version of Sam's Club catering to Hispanics and Latinos. Más Club closed in January 2014. Supermercado de Wal-Mart closed in December 2014.

several Aldi locations in Houston cater to Hispanic and Latino customers.

Culture Tex- Mex cuisine, a fusion of Mexican and American flavors, has deep roots in Houston’s Hispanic community. The city is credited with popularizing dishes such as fajitas, which were introduced by Maria Ninfa Rodriguez Laurenzo, the founder of Ninfa's Restaurant.

One of the largest annual festivals In Houston Is Fiestas Patrias, a celebration of Mexican Independence day that attracts thousands of people each year. It is organized by the Fiestas Patrias Houston, a local organization that Is dedicated to Mexican culture and traditions. The festival Is known to feature live music, traditional Mexican dancing, and a parade that goes through downtown Houston.

Geography Eschbach said that, historically, Hispanics resided in specific neighborhoods of Houston, such as Denver Harbor, the Houston Heights, Magnolia Park, and the Northside.

From the 1980 census to the 1990 census, there were large swathes of Hispanic growth in Houston; in most areas the Hispanics were of Mexican descent, while in Gulfton and Spring Branch of Spring Branch they were of Central American origins. Hispanics moved into sections of north Houston, Spring Branch, and Sharpstown by an amount between 1,000 and 3,500 per square mile, and Hispanics moved into Gulfton by more than 3,500 Hispanics per square mile. From the same period Hispanics began to move into a portion of the southeast metropolitan area, including sections of Pasadena and the City of South Houston by an amount between 1,000 and 3,500 per square mile.Rodriguez, Lori. "Census tracks rapid growth of suburbia." Houston Chronicle. Sunday March 10, 1991. Section A, Page 1.

Between 1985 and 2005, the county's Hispanic population tripled, with Hispanics making up about 40% of the county's residents. In most communities inside and outside Beltway 8, Hispanics became the predominant ethnic group. Some communities in Greater Houston which do not have Hispanics as the predominant ethnic group include expensive, predominately non-Hispanic white communities such as Memorial, Uptown, and West University Place; and historically African American neighborhoods located south and northeast of Downtown Houston. Eschbach said, "But even these core black and white neighborhoods are experiencing Hispanic inroads. Today, Hispanics live everywhere."

In a period before 2005, many Hispanic and Latino Americans had moved into traditionally African-American neighborhoods. Between 1990 and 2000, the numbers of Hispanic and Latino Americans in Kashmere Gardens, South Park, Sunnyside, and the Third Ward increased.Rodriguez, Lori. "SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS / Latinos bringing change to black neighborhoods / Newcomers are finding acceptance comes gradually," Houston Chronicle. Monday May 2, 2005. A1. Retrieved on February 4, 2009. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, many ethnic Hondurans from that city moved to Houston.Schilcutt, Katharine. "Honduras in Houston." Houston Press. Thursday August 19, 2010. Retrieved on August 23, 2010.

The Hispanic and Latino population's percentage of the overall population of Texas City had increased to 29.9% in 2017 from 27% in 2010, and by then the city had a Hispanic supermarket and other businesses catering to Hispanics.

Politics As of 2001, Hispanics were almost 38% of Houston's population and 8% of the city's voting electorate. As of the same year, most Hispanic and Latino candidates elected to public office in Houston are Mexican Americans, who are members of the Democratic Party. Most Hispanics and Latinos in public office are politically liberal. Lori Rodriguez of the Houston Chronicle said in 2001 that "the top tier of Latino politicos mainly walk in lock step." According to Richard Murray, a political scientist of the Center for Public Policy of Rice University, the Hispanic middle class of 2001 was larger than in previous years, and Hispanic voters lived in every Houston voting precinct, including River Oaks and Tanglewood.

In 2007 most of the Hispanic and Latino political power was Mexican American, aligned with the Democratic Party, and made up of residents of eastern Houston. But many of the most vocal leaders who participated in immigration rallies were Hispanics of Central American origin who resided mostly in Southwest Houston.Garza, Cynthia Leonor. "Latinos' political power hasn't matched growth," Houston Chronicle, August 19, 2007. 2. Retrieved on November 22, 2011.

In 2001 Orlando Sanchez made a bid to become Mayor of Houston. Lori Rodriguez of the Houston Chronicle said that this was the first well-funded and focused campaign for Houston mayor by a Hispanic candidate. Sanchez, a Cuban American, was a member of the Republican Party and politically conservative.