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Race Equity Trends > Community Profile

Explore the Community Profile Data Below:

Newcomers by Race/Ethnicity

The proportion of newcomers of color has gradually increased

Viewing tip: White is not shown on the figure in order to better show smaller racial or ethnic groups, especially those that make up 5% or less of newcomers to Lincoln.

Over the last decade, on average, about 8% of Lincoln’s population moved to the city in the previous 12 months. In 2021, newcomers1 to Lincoln had moved from:

  • Other places in Nebraska (4.5%).
  • Other places in the United States outside Nebraska (3.1%).
  • Other places outside the United States (0.6%).

In Lincoln, about half of newcomers to the city are between the ages of 18 and 24; this influx of young adults may be attributable to Lincoln’s multiple postsecondary institutions.

The proportion of newcomers who identify as non-white has gradually increased in recent years. The proportion of newcomers identifying as Black or African American has seen the greatest increase in the past five years.

From 2016 to 2021, The proportion of newcomers who:

  • Identify as Black or African American increased from 5.1% to 9.1%.
  • Identify as Latino/a or Hispanic increased from 8.9% to 9.6%.
  • Identify as American Indian or Alaska Native doubled from 0.8% to 1.6%.
  • Identify as Some Other Race increased from 1.8% to 2.7%.
  • Identify as Asian decreased from 8.6% to 7.8%.
  • Identify as White decreased from 72.9% to 69.0%.
  • Identify as Two or More Races has remained consistent, from 4.3% to 4.4%.
Notes

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year estimates, Table S0701.

Residents one year of age or older. Those who identify as Latino/a/Hispanic may also be counted in other racial categories. Race/ethnic groups that make up less than one quarter of one percent of the population do not appear on the chart.

Footnotes
  1. “Newcomers” are defined by the U.S. Census as those who moved into a geographic location in the previous 12 months. In other words, newcomers are anyone who has moved into Lincoln in the past 12 months from elsewhere in Nebraska, from another U.S. state, or from another country.