Hispanics in exurbs

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why do almost all exurbs have a significant Hispanic population and usually a large concentration somewhere? I'm finding lots of uber-Republican counties with an uber-Obama pocket which usually is a heavily Hispanic area. Hall County, GA was 74% for McCain yet has a >90% Obama precinct.

[Linus Van Pelt]

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that exurbs have the highest need for construction workers.

[minionofmidas]

And live-in domestic servants. But they don't vote (they're usually in the country illegally), and don't form settlement enclaves, obviously. Still probably a fair part of the reason why there's a Hispanic presence in every super-rich area.

But yeah, even exurbs need construction and low-paid services workers. In other words, they need pockets of poverty in order to be able to function.
Why these tend to be Hispanic a lot of the time is a more interesting question, and one I don't have a ready answer to.

[Sam Spade]

The more likely answer is that it is not a Hispanic precinct, but don't let that change your presumption.

[Beet]

Exurbs have lower housing costs.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The more likely answer is that it is not a Hispanic precinct, but don't let that change your presumption.

Well I found it. It's 64% black and 30% Hispanic.

Now also opening another question as to where the blacks came from.

[Sam Spade]

The more likely answer is that it is not a Hispanic precinct, but don't let that change your presumption.

Well I found it. It's 64% black and 30% Hispanic.

Now also opening another question as to where the blacks came from.

The blacks have always been there, I suspect (as they often are in supposed all-white areas).  Which ruins the other part of your presumption

[minionofmidas]

Comparing 2000 census results to 2007 (I think it was) estimates, the Black share of the county is estimated to be falling still (and round about 7%). While it's about a quarter Hispanic now, twice what it was in 2000. (Are your figures 2000, Zach?)

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I think so. I'm assuming that's what Dave's Redistricting App uses.

[Sam Spade]

Georgia actually helps us here.  See this:

http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter_registration/2008%20stats/DocumentDirect%20SSVRZ422_nov.pdf

In Gainesville City 2 (the reported precinct), turnout was as follows:

Total: 1497 (2070)
Blacks: 1346 (1741) (89.91%)
Whites: 76 (135) (5.07%)
Hispanics: 47 (134) (3.14%)
Others (including Asians): 28 (60) (1.87%)

Without knowing the exact breakdown of the absentees and earlies, it's nearly impossible for me to see exactly how this fits, as over 1,000 votes were cast early.

[Torie]

Exurbs have lower housing costs.

I think we have a winner here. The key thing is cost per square foot of housing space.

[Dgov]

Is the precinct actually exurban, or merely in a more urban part of a traditionally exurban area?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Georgia actually helps us here.  See this:

http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter_registration/2008%20stats/DocumentDirect%20SSVRZ422_nov.pdf

In Gainesville City 2 (the reported precinct), turnout was as follows:

Total: 1497 (2070)
Blacks: 1346 (1741) (89.91%)
Whites: 76 (135) (5.07%)
Hispanics: 47 (134) (3.14%)
Others (including Asians): 28 (60) (1.87%)

Without knowing the exact breakdown of the absentees and earlies, it's nearly impossible for me to see exactly how this fits, as over 1,000 votes were cast early.

OK so the Hispanics didn't vote. That still doesn't change that they make up 30% of the population there.

Although Gainesville has a pretty simple explanation as it appears that poultry processing is the primary economy there.

[muon2]

Is the precinct actually exurban, or merely in a more urban part of a traditionally exurban area?

Exurbs have lower housing costs.

I think we have a winner here. The key thing is cost per square foot of housing space.

Exurbs in the Midwest often engulf older towns or unincorporated subdivisions. Many of these feature houses from the 1950's and 60's, which tend to be smaller and more affordable than suburban housing of the 80's and later. This type of housing is a good fit for working class families holding jobs in the area. Hispanic communities often fit that profile, and utilize the affordable housing in those older areas.

[memphis]

There are going to be some Hispanics in many places, but the Hispanic areas here are definately not the exurbs.