Census 2000 Question on Hispanic/Latino Origin
Notes:
In Census 200, people of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin could identify as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. The term latino appeared on the census form for the first time in 2000. People who marked “other Spanish/Hispanic/ Latino” had additional space to write in Hispanic origins such as Salvadoran or Dominican, a practice started in the 1990 census. The 1990 and 1980 censuses asked people if they were of Spanish/Hispanic origin or descent” and, if so, to choose Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Spanish/Hispanic.
The Census in 1970 was the first to include a question on Hispanic origin, although it was only asked of a 5-percent sample of the population.
The question on Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin is separate from the question on race. Hispanic origin is considered an ethnicity, and Hispanics or Latinos may be of any race.