County population slightly lower, more diverse in 2020 U.S. Census

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Montgomery County’s population is slightly lower than it was in the 2010 U.S. Census, according to new census data.

The data also reflects a more diverse county driven by a huge increase in people with two or more races.

The county’s total counted population was 37,936 in the 2020 Census. That’s down from 38,124 a decade ago, a decrease of 0.5%.

Population diversity is measured by the U.S. Census Diversity Index, which determines the probability that two people chosen at random from an area would have a different race or ethnicity.

The county’s diversity index increased more than six points over the past decade to 20.4%, data show.

The number of people in Montgomery County with two or more races jumped to 1,799 from 471 a decade ago, a 282% increase.

There was a 31.2% increase in Hispanics or Latinos — from 1,739 to 2,281; and a 5.8% increase in Blacks — from 327 to 346.

Census data determine how many representatives the state will have in the U.S. Congress. Indiana currently has nine seats, and the last time the districts were reapportioned was 2003. Montgomery County is in District 4 represented by Republican Jim Baird.

The population counts are also used to distribute $1.5 trillion in annual federal funding.

Here is a look at the latest population counts in neighboring counties:

• Boone: 70,812 (+25%)

• Clinton: 33,190 (-0.1%)

• Fountain: 16,479 (-4.4%)

• Hendricks: 174,788 (+20.2%)

• Parke: 16,156 (-6.8%)

• Putnam: 36,726 (-3.3%)

• Tippecanoe: 172,780 (+7.8%)


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