Census: California Power Shifting Inland to Hispanics

California's census numbers confirm the rise of the state's Hispanics: Latinos now make up 37.6% of the population (or 14 million), just a shade below the 40.1% of whites (15 million). And the trend is clear—that's a 28% increase for Hispanics over the last decade and a bigger-than-expected 5.4% drop for whites, reports the Los Angeles Times. Asians are at 12.8% and blacks 5.8%.

Other highlights:

• The population continues to shift inland from coastal cities such as LA and San Francisco. Riverside County and San Bernardino are booming, mostly because of minorities.
• The state's overall population grew 10% to 37.3 million, the slowest rise in its history, notes the New York Times. For the first time, California won't gain a congressional seat after a census.
• "In both San Francisco and Los Angeles, the post-redistricting political landscape is going to look like a game of musical chairs—with switchblades," says a USC professor. "The California state Legislature and the congressional delegation are about to look a lot more like California."

(More Census Bureau stories.)