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The 2000 Census found eight out of 10 minority residents in the Twin Cities metropolitan area lived in either Hennepin or Ramsey county. Fast forward to 2007 when census estimates say that ratio has dropped to seven out of 10. The other three were in outlying areas.  

Barbara Ronningen, a demographer with the State Demographic Center, says the number of African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians in the cities is still increasing, but just not as quickly as in the suburbs. 

Ronningen says the growth in the number of minorities living in the suburbs may be due to other reasons, as well:  She says more people are moving to the Twin Cities from other countries.  

And, she says, minority populations, in general, are younger and have a higher birth rate than the white population, and it's likely that the latest findings reflect minority families with children moving to the suburbs.  

The changing face of the suburbs could have major implications in a number of areas, according to Paul Mattessich, head of the Wilder Foundation's research arm. 

And Ela Rausch, also with Wilder Research, says more diverse suburbs could have an impact on voting patterns.  

Researchers say there could be other changes down the road. They say there could be a growth in minority-owned businesses as a critical mass of people who have different cultural preferences reshapes the retail sector in suburban neighborhoods. They say some suburbs could begin to look more like Lake Street in Minneapolis than Main Street U.S.A.

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The latest census estimates show that the suburbs surrounding the Twin Cities are becoming more diverse.

Minority populations increase in the suburbs

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