Columbus’s foreign-born population origins are much more varied, and the overall population larger, than what one might expect. As of 2017, they made up 12% of the city’s population, the highest in more than 100 years. I’ve looked at such numbers before, but I wanted to update for the most recent available numbers.
Given that the 2017 demographic information was released yesterday by the US Census, it’s time to revisit this Columbus foreign-born population comparison and update it with the new data.
First up, let’s take a look at total foreign-born populations. I have looked at this topic some in the past, but I have never done a full-scale comparison for this topic.
Total Foreign-Born Population Rank by City 2000, 2010 and 2017 2000—————————————-2010———————————-2017 1. Chicago, IL: 628,903———–1. Chicago: 557,674—————1. Chicago: 563,688 2. San Jose, CA: 329,750——–2. San Jose: 366,194————-2. San Jose: 417,148 3. San Antonio, TX: 133,675—-3. San Antonio: 192,741———-3. San Antonio: 212,109 4. Austin, TX: 109,006————4. Austin: 148,431——————4. Austin: 177,844 5. Las Vegas, NV: 90,656——-5. Las Vegas: 130,503————-5. Charlotte: 147,074 6. Sacramento, CA: 82,616—–6. Chalotte: 106,047—————6. Las Vegas: 139,790 7. Portland, OR: 68,976———7. Sacramento: 96,105————-7. Sacramento: 111,904 8. Charlotte, NC: 59,849——–8. Columbus: 86,663—————-8. Columbus: 105,826 9. Minneapolis, MN: 55,475—–9. Portland: 83,026—————–9. Indianapolis: 89,465 10. Columbus: 47,713———–10. Indianapolis: 74,407———–10. Portland: 89,050 11. Milwaukee, WI: 46,122—–11. Nashville: 73,327—————11. Nashville: 86,271 12. Detroit, MI: 45,541———–12. Minneapolis: 57,846———–12. Minneapolis: 69,567 13. Providence, RI: 43,947—–13. Milwaukee: 57,222————-13. Orlando: 68,811 14. St. Paul, MN: 41,138——-14. Providence: 52,920————14. St. Paul: 64,056 15. Nashville, TN: 38,936——-15. St. Paul: 50,366—————-15. Milwaukee: 59,443 16. Indianapolis, IN: 36,067—-16. Orlando: 43,747—————-16. Providence: 54,520 17. Virginia Beach, VA: 28,276–17. Virginia Beach: 40,756—–17. Omaha: 51,041 18. Wichita, KS: 27,938———18. Omaha: 39,288—————18. Virginia Beach: 42,319 19. Orlando, FL: 26,741——–19. Wichita: 39,128—————–19. Detroit: 41,374 20. Omaha, NE: 25,687———-20. Kansas City: 35,532———20. Wichita: 40,427 21. Kansas City, MO: 25,632—21. Detroit: 34,307—————-21. Kansas City: 37,833 22. Cleveland: 21,372————22. Madison: 24,929————–22. Madison: 32,066 23. Grand Rapids, MI: 20,814—23. St. Louis: 23,011————23. Des Moines: 29,876 24. St Louis, MO: 19,542——–24. Lincoln: 22,214—————24. Pittsburgh:26,504 25. Pittsburgh, PA: 18,874——-25. Des Moines: 20,798——–25. Grand Rapids: 26,014 26. Madison, WI: 18,792———26. Pittsburgh: 18,698———–26. Lincoln: 25,689 27. Des Moines, IA: 15,713—–27. Cleveland: 17,739————27. St. Louis: 23,659 28. Lincoln, NE: 13,246———-28. Grand Rapids: 16,615——-28. Fort Wayne: 22,186 29. Cincinnati: 12,461————29. Cincinnati: 16,531————29. Cleveland: 21,992 30. Fort Wayne, IN: 10,187—–30. Fort Wayne: 15,286———30. Cincinnati: 19,085 31. Toledo: 9,475——————31. Toledo: 11,159—————31. Akron: 13,423 32. Akron: 6,911——————-32. Akron: 8,524——————-32. Toledo: 11,260 33. Dayton: 3,245—————–33. Dayton: 5,102——————33. Dayton: 6,743 34. Youngstown: 1,605———-34. Youngstown: 3,695———–34. Youngstown: 1,401
Here’s the 2000-2017 total change. And the 2000-2017 change by %.
So Columbus has had above average total and % growth compared to its peers nationally since 2000. What about more recently?
Total change 2010-2017. And the 2010-2017 change by %. So now that we know how many foreign-born immigrants are arriving, let’s take a look at where they are coming from.
Total Foreign-Born Residents From Europe in 2000 and 2017 2000———————————————–2017 1. Chicago: 145,462———————1. Chicago: 96,656 2. San Jose: 21,904———————2. San Jose: 25,147 3. Portland: 17,572———————-3. Portland: 16,548 4. Las Vegas: 9,070———————4. Austin: 13,337 5. Cleveland: 8,796———————-5. Charlotte: 9,775 6. St. Louis: 8,543———————–6. Las Vegas: 8,536 7. San Antonio: 8,323——————7. San Antonio: 7,852 8. Sacramento: 8,204——————8. Virginia Beach: 7,368 9. Milwaukee: 7,841——————–9. Columbus: 6,860 10. Charlotte: 7,487——————–10. Indianapolis: 6,344 11. Austin: 7,474————————11. Sacramento: 6,008 12. Pittsburgh: 7,413——————-12. Nashville: 5,778 13. Columbus: 7,017——————-13. Orlando: 5,516 14. Indianapolis: 6,543—————-14. Minneapolis: 5,477 15. Virginia Beach: 6,333————-15. Milwaukee: 4,388 16. Detroit: 5,600————————16. Pittsburgh: 4,265 17. Minneapolis: 5,409—————–17. Providence: 4,022 18. Providence: 5,126——————18. Lincoln: 3,908 19. Nashville: 4,859——————–19. St. Louis: 3,680 20. Cincinnati: 3,851——————-20. Cincinnati: 3,556 21. Grand Rapids: 3,396————–21. Omaha: 3,483 22. Omaha: 3,320———————–22. Cleveland: 3,399 23. St. Paul: 3,255———————-23. Kansas City: 3,362 24. Des Moines: 3,216—————-24. Madison: 2,867 25. Kansas City: 2,985—————-25. St. Paul: 2,394 26. Madison: 2,871——————–26. Detroit: 2,393 27. Lincoln: 2,701———————-27. Fort Wayne: 2,388 28. Akron: 2,687———————–28. Des Moines: 2,156 29. Orlando: 2,509——————–29. Wichita: 1,660 30. Fort Wayne: 2,076—————30. Grand Rapids: 1,517 31. Toledo: 2,020———————31. Akron: 1,286 32. Wichita: 2,004———————32. Toledo: 1,242 33. Dayton: 901———————–33. Dayton: 877 34. Youngstown: 870—————-34. Youngstown: 173
Columbus had a high number of Europeans versus most peers, but almost all cities saw drops in this demographic between 2000 and 2017, some quite drastic. Columbus’ drop was relatively minor.
Total Foreign-born Population from Asia 2000 and 2017 2000————————————————–2017 1. San Jose: 182,712—————————1. San Jose: 262,208 2. Chicago: 112,932—————————-2. Chicago: 140,434 3. Sacramento: 40,253————————-3. Austin: 57,584 4. Portland: 26,271——————————4. Sacramento: 53,731 5. Austin: 25,036——————————–5. Charlotte: 46,698 6. St. Paul: 23,245——————————6. Columbus: 43,706 7. Columbus: 22,354—————————7. San Antonio: 40,642 8. Minneapolis: 17,376————————8. Portland: 38,224 9. Las Vegas: 17,062————————–9. Las Vegas: 35,087 10. San Antonio: 15,840———————-10. St. Paul: 34,678 11. Charlotte: 15,734————————–11. Nashville: 26,155 12. Virginia Beach: 15,176——————-12. Indianapolis: 23,934 13. Detroit: 15,114——————————13. Virginia Beach: 23,625 14. Nashville: 12,573—————————14. Madison: 18,795 15. Milwaukee: 12,114————————-15. Detroit: 18,681 16. Wichita: 10,826—————————–16. Milwaukee: 17,838 17. Madison: 9,736—————————–17. Minneapolis: 15,967 18. Indianapolis: 9,190————————-18. Pittsburgh: 15,873 19. Pittsburgh: 7,938—————————-19. Wichita: 15,466 20. Providence: 7,871————————–20. Omaha: 14,504 21. Kansas City: 7,312————————-21. Lincoln: 13,804 22. Lincoln: 6,691——————————-22. Kansas City: 12,043 23. St. Louis: 6,425—————————–23. Fort Wayne: 10,972 24. Omaha: 6,302——————————-24. Des Moines: 10,691 25. Cleveland: 6,213—————————25. St. Louis: 9,632 26. Des Moines: 5,239————————26. Orlando: 8,122 27. Orlando: 4,530—————————–27. Akron: 7,862 28. Cincinnati: 4,326————————–28. Cleveland: 7,450 29. Toledo: 3,847——————————29. Providence: 6,668 30. Grand Rapids: 3,206———————30. Grand Rapids: 6,585 31. Akron: 3,099——————————-31. Toledo: 6,196 32. Fort Wayne: 2,792————————32. Cincinnati: 6,002 33. Dayton: 903———————————33. Dayton: 1,614 34. Youngstown: 338————————–34. Youngstown: 448
Columbus ranks even higher with its foreign-born Asian population.
Total Foreign-born Population from Africa 2000 and 2017 2000—————————————————2017 1. Minneapolis: 12,765——————–1. Columbus: 33,607 2. Chicago: 12,613————————-2. Chicago: 26,995 3. Columbus: 9,530————————3. Minneapolis: 25,286 4. San Jose: 5,189————————-4. Nashville: 18,387 5. Charlotte: 4,722————————–5. Charlotte: 18,234 6. St. Paul: 4,697—————————-6. Indianapolis: 17,452 7. Nashville: 4,183————————–7. St. Paul: 15,926 8. Detroit: 3,249—————————–8. Omaha: 7,496 9. Providence: 3,138———————–9. San Jose: 7,400 10. Indianapolis: 2,650——————–10. Portland: 7,059 11. Portland: 2,430————————-11. Austin: 6,469 12. Austin: 2,263—————————-12. Des Moines: 6,124 13. Kansas City: 2,192——————–13. San Antonio: 5,718 14. Cincinnati: 1,781———————–14. Kansas City: 5,051 15. St. Louis: 1,500————————-15. St. Louis: 4,977 16. Omaha: 1,497—————————16. Providence: 4,697 17. San Antonio: 1,358——————–17. Milwaukee: 4,423 18. Milwaukee: 1,332———————-18. Cincinnati: 4,207 19. Cleveland: 1,075———————–19. Grand Rapids: 3,754 20. Sacramento: 1,051——————–20. Sacramento: 2,955 21. Des Moines: 1,038——————–21. Pittsburgh: 2,731 22. Madison: 991—————————22. Cleveland: 2,728 23. Orlando: 983—————————23. Orlando: 2,552 24. Wichita: 946—————————-24. Akron: 2,311 25. Las Vegas: 916———————–25. Madison: 2,180 26. Pittsburgh: 905————————26. Wichita: 2,142 27. Virginia Beach: 840——————27. Las Vegas: 1,846 28. Grand Rapids: 718——————-28. Lincoln: 1,680 29. Toledo: 638—————————-29. Dayton: 1,397 30. Lincoln: 637—————————30. Detroit: 1,082 31. Dayton: 522—————————-31. Virginia Beach: 847 32. Fort Wayne: 384———————-32. Fort Wayne: 628 33. Akron: 197—————————–33. Toledo: 615 34. Youngstown: 50———————-34. Youngstown: 0
Columbus has claimed the number 1 spot in its foreign-born African population, passing previous top city Minneapolis.
And finally, the total foreign-born population from the Americas in 2000 and 2017 2000—————————————————-2017 1. Chicago: 357,235————————–1. Chicago: 297,926 2. San Jose: 117,989————————2. San Antonio: 157,629 3. San Antonio: 107,906——————–3. San Jose: 120,657 4. Austin: 73,935——————————4. Austin: 99,482 5. Las Vegas: 63,277————————5. Las Vegas: 93,693 6. Charlotte: 31,625————————–6. Charlotte: 72,211 7. Sacramento: 28,927———————-7. Orlando: 52,421 8. Providence: 27,649———————–8. Sacramento: 42,632 9. Milwaukee: 24,781————————9. Indianapolis: 41,554 10. Detroit: 21,527—————————10. Providence: 39,093 11. Portland: 20,939————————-11. Nashville: 35,719 12. Minneapolis: 19,648——————–12. Milwaukee: 32,630 13. Orlando: 18,639————————-13. Portland: 25,417 14. Indianapolis: 17,530——————–14. Omaha: 25,385 15. Nashville: 17,125————————15. Minneapolis: 22,688 16. Omaha: 14,467————————–16. Columbus: 21,578 17. Wichita: 13,988—————————17. Wichita: 20,983 18. Grand Rapids: 13,477——————18. Detroit: 19,143 19. Kansas City: 12,948———————19. Kansas City: 17,377 20. St. Paul: 9,804—————————-20. Grand Rapids: 14,158 21. Columbus: 8,596————————21. St. Paul: 10,878 22. Des Moines: 6,201———————-22. Des Moines: 10,627 23. Virginia Beach: 5,754——————23. Virginia Beach: 10,415 24. Cleveland: 5,192————————24. Cleveland: 8,386 25. Madison: 5,080————————–25. Fort Wayne: 8,198 26. Fort Wayne: 4,930———————-26. Madison: 8,031 27. Lincoln: 3,106—————————-27. Lincoln: 6,190 28. St. Louis: 2,961————————–28. Cincinnati: 5,320 29. Toledo: 2,942—————————-29. St. Louis: 5,008 30. Pittsburgh: 2,463————————30. Pittsburgh: 3,443 31. Cincinnati: 2,432————————31. Toledo: 3,207 32. Dayton: 919——————————32. Dayton: 2,855 33. Akron: 891——————————-33. Akron: 1,699 34. Youngstown: 333———————–34. Youngstown: 780
Columbus does the worst with this group, but even here it moved up 5 spots in the rankings.
The rest of the foreign-born population is made up of small groups of people from Oceania- or basically island nations.