14. The Southwest Border Area

The Southwest Border area is known for its diversity. In this area, the cultures of the native Americans, the Spanish from the south and the Europeans all melt together to form the Southwest Border Area. In the States within this region, many cultural influences can be seen in the food, architecture and people.

Los Angeles is located well within the Southwest Border Region and is a good example of the diversity within this region. Although most would consider Hispanics a minority in the United States, in Los Angeles, the Hispanic and Latino population make up about half of the total population (48.5%), while white make up 50% (29% if you only include non-hispanic whites)(1).

Portland, on the other hand, is one of the least diverse big cities in the United States. This reputation has earned it the nick name, "The whitest big city in the nation" (2). Looking at the graph you can see that at 78%, the white population is indeed the majority. The next highest ethnicity group is Asian at only 6.5%. In 1849 Portland actually banned African American immigration and it only allowed Chinese immigrants as labor worker, but banned property ownership and did not allow their families to migrate with them.

This somewhat rocky past has created what is still the "Most White City" in the United States. The new trend of the bicycles and beer culture in Portland has only increased the number of white immigrants into the city in recent years.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Los_Angeles
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon