May 5th marks the Mexican army’s victory over the French invaders at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. In the United States, the celebration of this battle has come to be known simply as the “Cinco de Mayo.” Along with Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, Cinco de Mayo has become a time to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture.

25.3 million*
Number of U.S. residents of Mexican origin in 2003. These residents constituted 9 percent of the nation’s total population. <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/index.html>.

16.6 million*
Number of people of Mexican origin who reside either in California (9.9 million) or Texas (6.7 million). People of Mexican origin make up nearly one-third of the residents of these two states. <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/index.html>.

10 million*
Number of foreign-born residents from Mexico. They constitute about 3-in-10 people who were foreign-born. <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/index.html>.

31%
Percentage of Mexican family households containing five or more people. This is the highest rate of large households among Latino groups.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/hispanic_origin_population/001130.html>.

12%
Percentage of people of Mexican heritage who work in managerial or professional occupations.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/hispanic_origin_population/001130.html>.

297
Number of U.S. tortilla manufacturing establishments in 2002. These establishments employed 12,000 people and had an annual payroll of $296 million. Tortillas, the principal food of the Aztecs, are known as the “bread of Mexico.” <http://www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html>.

$266.6 billion
The value of goods traded between the United States and Mexico in 2004. Mexico is our nation’s second-leading trading partner, after Canada.
<http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>.

* The figure given does not include people living in group quarters.