Suburbanization of Puerto Ricans in the New York Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, 1970
Abstract
Continuous study of the Puerto Rican migration to the mainland, and consideration of theories of assimilation, led some researchers to suggest that Puerto Ricans might be "unmeltable ethnics." Comparison of 1970 census data to those of 1950, revealed little or no improvement in the socio-economic status of the Puerto Rican population and, in some case, there was evidence of slippage and/or deterioration. In order to enable a comprehensive study of the Puerto Rican population in the New York Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, Special Tabulations of the 1970 Census were designed to describe the demographic, socio-economic and labor force characteristics of recent and long term migrants and differentiate between persons of Puerto Rican birth and those of Puerto Rican parentage. Utilizing those data, this research provided a detailed socio-economic profile of Puerto Ricans in New York City's suburbs. Comparisons were made to both the total suburban population and the Puerto Rican population in the city. When compared to the total suburban population, Puerto Ricans were a much younger, poorer and less educated population, who arrived in the suburbs much later than the total population. Further, of all the Puerto Rican subgroups, those of Puerto Rican parentage were most similar to the total suburban population. When compared to Puerto Ricans in New York City, suburban Puerto Ricans were much better off than the city counterparts on all socio-economic indicators and labor force characteristics. This analysis demonstrated that there were substantial differences between persons of Puerto Rican birth and those of Puerto Rican parentage, as well as substantial differences related to recency of migration and residence. It is, therefore, unwise to consider the Puerto Rican population in the New York Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area as a homogeneous group.
Subject Area
Demographics|Sociology|Minority & ethnic groups|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Padilla, Elaine S, "Suburbanization of Puerto Ricans in the New York Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, 1970" (1991). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9215352.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9215352
