Have you noticed the demographic changes happening in Howard County? Howard County is becoming more diverse ethnically and is growing older.
The ethnic changes are seen in the Korean stores along Route 40 and the ethnic food markets that are becoming common sights everywhere in the county. The 2010 Census bears this reality out in the percentages of racial and ethnic categories. The white/non-Hispanic population declined from 2000–2010 from 53.4% to 42.9%, and the African-American population percentage dropped from 37.1% to 35.8%. However, the Asian population increased from 4.4% to 5.7%, and the Hispanic population increased from 4.8% to 11.5%. Added to this reality is that the Asian and Hispanic populations tend to be younger, with school-aged children.
So why are newly arrived immigrants attracted to Howard County? First and foremost is the county’s educational system. Many of the immigrants arriving in Howard County have professional backgrounds and a good educational system for their children is paramount.
Secondly, Howard County is perceived as a “welcoming” community that embraces diversity. The values that Jim Rouse instilled in the development of Columbia still resonate in our community. Walk though the Columbia Mall or any shopping area in our community and you will clearly see the diversity of our population.
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and Howard Community College (HCC) have had to develop resources to address the needs of a growing foreign-born population. For HCPSS this has meant to establish an Office of International Student and Family Services. This office has translation services, family support, liaisons, a leadership program and an outreach office. Not surprisingly, the Asian and Hispanic populations have been the source of much of this growth. While the Hispanic population speaks a common language, the Asian population speaks a very wide range of languages and dialects.
For HCC, the services provided are through its English as a Second Language (ESL) program and its English Language Center. The center has worked with students speaking 54 different languages. Half of the students coming into the center have a college degree from their native country. The countries with the highest percentage of students are Korea and El Salvador. Closely following El Salvador is Myanmar (Burma).
The other big demographic change indicated by the 2010 Census was that Howard County had a rapidly aging population. While the aging of the large Baby Boomer generation has been raising the age of the U.S. population in general, the aging in Howard County is exaggerated because of the large influx of young families into the county that happened in the 1970s and ’80s. The median age in Howard County is now almost 38. In 1980 the median age was 18.
Over the next 10–15 years the percentage of residents 55 and older will increase to about 30% of the total population. In 2004, the County Office of Planning and Zoning released a Senior Housing Master Plan that discussed the housing situation and needs for this older population.
The findings were summarized in its report: “Nearly 70% of the County’s older adults want to remain in their homes or nearby. This phenomenon of ‘aging in place’ requires strategies that address both the physical features of housing and the access to services available in the community. The County’s Office on Aging provides a range of services to residents who want to remain in their homes, but its resources need to be increased. The plan also highlights ‘Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities,’ or NORCs, which are geographic areas where more than 50% of the residents are 65 years or older (think 50+ housing). NORCs are found throughout Howard County, with Columbia and Ellicott City having the highest concentrations. These communities should be targets for increasing access to a range of services, including home repair and modifications, transportation and in-home health care.” The rapid growth of Neighbor Ride for seniors speaks to this reality.
These two demographic changes have significant impacts on community service providers. How will agencies communicate with persons who only speak a foreign language or have different cultural values on how they accept assistance? How will organizations that have geared their programs to young people and families now re-orient them for the aging baby boomers?
To grow and stay vital in the future, organizations and agencies will need to clearly address these two demographic realities.
Duane St. Clair is executive director of the Association of Community Services. He can be reached at Duane.StClair@acshoco.org or 410-715-9545.
