Mount Vernon’s Growing Hispanic Community: Who Are the “Other”?

According to the 2020 Census, Mount Vernon is home to over 14,000 Hispanic residents. The numbers tell part of the story:

• 3,857 are Puerto Rican

• 1,395 are Mexican

• 7,909 fall into the category of “Other”

But who makes up this “Other”? Are they Dominican? Ecuadorian? Colombian? Salvadoran? Maybe even Brazilian—Latinos who speak Portuguese but share many of the same cultural traditions and community ties.

These numbers raise exciting questions. Where are they from? What towns do they call home? How often do they travel back to visit family?

Puerto Ricans, for example, often travel back to the island to stay rooted in culture and family life. Could Dominicans in Mount Vernon be doing the same, returning to Santo Domingo or Santiago? Are Brazilians heading back to São Paulo, Rio, or small towns in Minas Gerais to keep their connections strong?

Mount Vernon’s Hispanic and Latino community is diverse and dynamic, and the Census hints at a cultural mix that deserves to be explored more deeply.

Inquiring minds want to know—let’s go find out!