Census: LI's foreign-born population rises

Long Island's foreign-born population rose in the last decade, according to new census data out Thursday, an increase that may reflect not only the influx of immigrants, but also the aging of the native-born population who are dying or moving away.

Nearly 21 percent of Nassau County residents were foreign-born, according to estimates from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey data, up from 17.9 percent in 2000; 14 percent were foreign-born in Suffolk County in 2006-2010, up from 11.2 percent in 2000.

"That's a 3 percentage point increase in Nassau and Suffolk . . . slightly larger than I would expect," said Seth Forman, a professor of public policy at Stony Brook University, who analyzed the data.

"The reason I think the percentage went up so quickly is not just the influx of the foreign-born, but the aging out and moving out of the native-born," Forman said.

Among the foreign-born population, 7.2 percent were not U.S. citizens in Suffolk and 7.8 percent in Nassau, according to the 2006-2010 estimates. In the 2000 census, 5.7 percent were not citizens in Suffolk, while the percentage was virtually unchanged in Nassau, at 7.9 percent, a development Forman said was puzzling since Nassau's foreign-born population has increased.

Just over half of the Island's foreign-born population comes from Latin America, the data show.

The American Community Survey, which queries 3.5 million people annually, has replaced the census long form -- last used in 2000 -- to provide planners and policymakers with more timely data. The survey profiles communities across a range of demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics.

Some of the survey's estimates about the foreign-born surprised Forman, such as the revelation that the median age of the foreign-born was higher than native-born Long Islanders: 45.9 years for the foreign born in Nassau versus 38.3 years among native-born residents of the county. In Suffolk, the median age was 41.8 years for the foreign-born, compared with 38.6 years for the native-born.

Forman said a possible explanation was that older immigrants from the World War II era, particularly in Nassau County, may be a factor in driving up the median age among the foreign-born.

The data also show marriage rates between the native-born and foreign-born were similar on Long Island, at around 70 percent; and a slightly larger percentage of the foreign-born in the civilian workforce: 70 percent in Nassau and 70.3 percent in Suffolk for the foreign-born compared with 64 percent in Nassau and 65.6 percent in Suffolk among the native-born.

The foreign-born population also showed higher rates of those who are self-employed: 7.3 percent in Nassau and 6.2 percent in Suffolk, compared with 5.1 percent in Nassau and 5 percent in Suffolk among U.S.-born Long Islanders.

LI'S IMMIGRANT POPULATION

Foreign-born population percentage among Long Island's counties and selected communities, as estimated by the 2006-2010 American Community Survey.

Nassau: 20.7%

Suffolk: 14%

COMMUNITIES

Brentwood: 42.3%

Elmont: 42.1%

Uniondale: 40.6%

Hempstead Village: 39.2%

North Bay Shore: 38%

Central Islip: 36.7%

Freeport: 34.3%

Valley Stream: 33%

Huntington Station: 27.3%

Hicksville: 26.9%

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau; Seth Forman, Stony Brook University

NOTE: Other Long Island communities' foreign-born population data are not provided by the Census Bureau because of small sample sizes.