Hispanic population in Western Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: job market, neighborhoods, live)

[phillydominican]

Now we all know the eastern half of the state has a large Hispanic population, especially Puerto Ricans. With a large number in the Philadelphia area, and even in smaller cities like Allentown, Reading, Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Scranton, and Hazelton to name a few. While the western part of the state seems like the opposite, with few Hispanics. I think its only a matter of time before Western PA gets hit wit the same Hispanic migration wave as Eastern PA, tho to a much lesser degree. Is there already sizable numbers of Hispanics in the metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh and Erie? If so, what neighborhoods are u most likely to find them? Im sure there are some neighborhoods in both metro areas that are atleast 10-15% Hispanic and growing, where they at???

[sskink]

In Pittsburgh, Beechview would seem the likely candidate for highest % of Mexicans/Central Americans.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by phillydominican

If so, what neighborhoods are u most likely to find them? Im sure there are some neighborhoods in both metro areas that are atleast 10-15% Hispanic and growing, where they at???

Sammy "The Who Can Mexican" hails from Monessen, and there is a Spanish Club in Donora. Maybe in the mid-Mon Valley area, you'll see a fair concentration.


But I suspect that the future waves of hispanic immigrants will be dispersed

[eschaton]

Beechview was only around 6% Hispanic in 2010, but it was still the highest in the city - the county too, for that matter. I'm sure it's a bit higher today, but I don't think the amount has taken off dramatically.

In the close to eleven years I've lived here, the amount of Latinos has gone up considerably though. I used to go days without seeing anyone who was Hispanic (discounting a few friends/acquaintances), but now I see Hispanic people pretty frequently. I just don't think there is a really strong geographic concentration.

Elsewhere in Western Pennsylvania, I think Erie is the only place with any population to speak of. In 2010 it was 7% Hispanic. Erie doesn't have a Hispanic neighborhood, but there are a bunch of census tracts which are over 10% Hispanic, and one which was around 17% Hispanic. I don't think the local community there is dominated by any one nationality. You should check in the general Pennsylvania forum for more details.

[bluecarebear]

I doubt they or any other ethnic group will move here. The economy is only average with a high COL. The reason for the growth in the east part of the state is proximity to major cities that have much stronger job markets than Western PA.

[Bazzwell]

Donora (technically speaking) has a small population of folks with Spanish (as in Spain) roots. So far in the Mon Valley, Charleroi seems to be the concentration point for those from South America.

[I_Like_Spam]

I saw Monessen's Vasquez on TV, the announcers made note of the non-standard way Vasquez pronounced his name "Vas-kwezz", which differs from the standard pronunciation in espanol.

I spoke with a hispanic gentleman from Elizabeth Twp. a number of years ago who pronounced his own name "Jiminez" with a soft "j" sound like you'd hear in the word "gym".


I don't know enough hispanics nor enough about Spanish to know, but is there a Spanish version of "Pittsburghese", where Pittsburgh area Spanish have their own way of speaking their own language.

[Herodotus]

There are quite a few Latinos in the Mt. Oliver/Carrick area now. Most seem to be from Central America. Because there are so few Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans in Pittsburgh, there is a tendency for all but the really white ones to blend into the black community. Caribbean Latinos are much more likely to be tri-racial, as opposed to the Mestizos, and heavily native populations of Mexico, and Central America. As there is no shortage of blacks with substantial European ancestry, it's pretty easy for many Hispanics with Caribbean roots to blend in.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by Herodotus

There are quite a few Latinos in the Mt. Oliver/Carrick area now. Most seem to be from Central America. Because there are so few Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans in Pittsburgh, there is a tendency for all but the really white ones to blend into the black community. Caribbean Latinos are much more likely to be tri-racial, as opposed to the Mestizos, and heavily native populations of Mexico, and Central America. As there is no shortage of blacks with substantial European ancestry, it's pretty easy for many Hispanics with Caribbean roots to blend in.

I grew up with last names like Gomez, Rodriguez, and so on. Most of the latino's I grew up with either had parents or grandparents that were Cuban, Dominican or Puerto Rican. Most if not all of them identified as black and were treated as such.

[pman]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

I grew up with last names like Gomez, Rodriguez, and so on. Most of the latino's I grew up with either had parents or grandparents that were Cuban, Dominican or Puerto Rican. Most if not all of them identified as black and were treated as such.

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