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Immigrant and Hispanic population helping carry Buffalo's resurgence and population growth

Posted at 5:59 PM, Jul 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-02 17:59:22-04

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Mayor Bryon Brown is already looking forward to the 2020 Census.

He said at numerous events over the last few weeks he anticipates this report could show the first population growth in the City of Buffalo in the past 7 years — since the 1950 census.

There are two communities being lauded for pushing the resurgence forward in Western New York — the refugee and immigrant population along with the growing Latino/Hispanic community.

Casimiro Rodriguez, Sr., president of the Hispanic Heritage Council says thousands of families came to Buffalo during the 2017 Hurricane Maria relief efforts.

Those families that resettled, brought other family members, and hence we see an enormous surge in the Latino population here.

A study done by New American Economy shows non-native residents of Buffalo have helped carry the economy, push entrepreneurial growth, and keep the healthcare sector booming.

With Buffalo’s population both aging, and shrinking from native-residents moving away, the immigrant population is actively helping to keep the workforce viable.