Demographics

March 6, 2015 - A recent report called "States of Change" produced by three national think tanks outlines 10 trends that will re-shape the American electorate, including a rise in the number of states that are majority-minority. Is your state one of the 22 expected to hit that milestone by 2060?

February 6, 2015 - Backlash against the South's recent rapid growth in the immigrant population may be contributing to the region's negative response to the president's executive action on immigration. But demographic trends may be fueling a more welcoming environment in the region's cities.

January 23, 2015 - An Institute analysis of who turned out for the 2014 midterm election in North Carolina finds small but steady increases in engagement among voters of color. Could they make the difference in the state in 2016?

November 19, 2014 - A national conference for racial justice advocates held in Dallas last week considered how changing racial demographics present both opportunities and challenges for advancing racial justice in the country and in the South.

October 30, 2014 - Statewide races in Georgia for U.S. Senate and governor seem to be getting closer and closer in each new poll. The outcomes may be decided by how many new voters and people of color turn out to vote -- an issue that may be directly affected by a court ruling on disputed voter registration forms.

October 3, 2014 - Asian Americans now represent the fastest-growing racial group in the South. Though their voter registration rates remain disproportionately low, efforts are underway in states including Georgia and North Carolina to boost those numbers.

September 19, 2014 - The South is the country's fastest-growing region, and transplants from elsewhere may be changing the region's political leanings.

August 29, 2014 - The total student population in the U.S. is projected to become majority minority this year, but the South hit this milestone six years ago. Demographic changes have been sweeping Southern schools, introducing new racial dynamics in what has traditionally been a black and white story while progress on racial integration slips.

July 22, 2014 - A new report looks at the well-being of children by state and finds that those living in Appalachia and the South are facing especially difficult conditions, including growing poverty and economic inequality. It calls for smart investments to ensure all children have the chance to live up to their full potential.

December 6, 2012 - Especially since the Great Recession, people in the U.S. aren't moving as much as they used to. But new Census data shows that for those who do move, the South is the most popular destination.