More than 50 percent of the population of nearly one in 10 counties across the country are minorities, including African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans, according to a report released in August by the U. S. Census Bureau. Between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006, eight counties crossed the 50 percent minority population mark, bringing the total to 303 out of 3,141. As minority populations continue to grow, some local governments are adjusting services to address the needs of their more diverse communities.

Manassas Park, Va., an independent city considered a county equivalent by the Census Bureau, was one of the eight counties to nudge past the 50 percent minority population mark in August. Located about 30 miles from Washington, the city has seen a significant influx of Hispanic residents over the last 10 years, Mayor Frank Jones says. The city has adjusted to the demographic shift by placing bilingual employees at key positions in city government and creating language programs in the school system. “[One problem caused by the population shift] is [the inability of city employees] to communicate the requirements of city code, and [these programs have] made our job easier,” Jones says.

However, pressure from an anti-illegal immigration faction to rid the city of its illegal residents is creating a hostile environment for all Latinos, Jones says. During an August meeting, several city council members said the city had to be careful in considering the legal methods to address the illegal immigrant issue to avoid costly legal fees. The city is monitoring challenges to illegal immigration initiatives in neighboring jurisdictions to see how they stand up in court, Jones says.

Long-simmering tensions boiled over in September when city officials cancelled the third-annual Latino Festival because of a lack of sponsors. “There was a feeling that some vendors were nervous [about sponsoring the festival] because of all the hate going on,” Jones says. “People need to know that [the anti-Latino] sentiments are not coming from this city.” In August, the city issued an official position on illegal immigration, stating that it is proud of its diversity, and officials will “make clear the distinction between illegal residency and a varied cultural presence within our borders.”

A migration of many middle- and working-class residents out of the inner cities of Miami-Dade County, Fla., has resulted in population growth in the county's unincorporated areas. Increasingly, some of the areas have formed cities, such as Miami Gardens, an African-American community, which incorporated in May 2003.

Miami Gardens residents decided to incorporate because they felt they were not receiving enough county services for the amount of taxes they were paying, says Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson. The move to self-government, Gibson says, has been empowering. “Revenue-sharing of [state] funds is based on population,” she says. “With over 100,000 people, including a huge voting block of African-Americans, our sheer numbers have created more muscle for us [to obtain funds,]” she says.

Some majority-minority counties emphasize programs that predominantly target racial minorities, such as affordable housing programs, at-risk youth programs, and small business enterprise programs, says Jackie Byers, director of research at the Washington-based National Association of Counties. However, critics of the programs claim they are reverse discrimination.

Counties with large immigrant populations need to accommodate them with bilingual programs, Byers says. “You want people to comply with your laws, your rules, and your regulations, so you need to educate people what those laws are,” she says.

Annie Gentile is a Vernon, Conn.-based freelance writer.