SLO County’s Asian and Hispanic populations boomed in the past decade. Here’s where
Who we are and what we look like is changing on the Central as demographic forces felt across California make San Luis Obispo County more ethnically diverse.
New data from the 2020 census shows the number of people who identified as Hispanic, Asian or multiracial in San Luis Obispo County grew markedly in the past decade — in fact, they were three fastest-growing demographic groups in the county during that time.
The census, which every 10 years produces a snapshot of the United States population, shows how demographics are changing in San Luis Obispo County over time.
Though the county itself experienced slow population growth — an increase of only about 4.7% between 2010 and 2020 — in that same time, both the Hispanic and Asian populations grew by more than 21% and the number of people who identified as multiracial (two or more races) more than doubled.
Meanwhile, the number of people who identified as white, Black, American Indian or Native American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander all decreased over the past decade.
Those demographic changes echoed a larger shift across the country, where the number of Hispanic, Asian and multi-racial Americans grew significantly through 2020.
Experts warn some of the data from the latest census could be skewed by the far-reaching impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, so the data in general should be treated as estimates.
Here are some more insights from the latest population data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, including which cities and communities saw large changes in their ethnic makeup.
Hispanic people made up almost a quarter of SLO County population in 2020
According to the latest census data, the number of people who identified as Hispanic in San Luis Obispo County grew from 55,973 in the 2010 census to 67,921 in 2020.
That’s a roughly 21.4% increase over the decade — making those who identify as Hispanic the third-fastest growing racial group in SLO County and the second largest group overall here.
According to the data, the Hispanic population comprised about 24% of the total SLO County population in 2020.
At a city level, all of SLO County’s communities showed Hispanic population growth except for one: Oceano, where the Hispanic population dropped by about 3.6% between 2010 and 2020. That community also reported overall population decline in that same time.
The city of San Luis Obispo added the most Hispanic residents across the county over the decade, growing from a 2010 population of 6,626 to 8,729 in 2020. According to the data, roughly 18.6% of the San Luis Obispo city population identifies as Hispanic.
Those who identify as Hispanic make up a majority of the population in three SLO County communities: Shandon (60%), San Miguel (63%) and San Simeon (66.5%).
Asian population grows most in SLO city, census data shows
The number of people who identified as Asian American in San Luis Obispo County grew the fastest of any single ethnic group in 2020.
Between 2010 and 2020, the Asian American population grew from 8,106 to 10,001. Asian Americans are the third largest demographic group in San Luis Obispo County, behind white and Hispanic people.
The biggest gain in Asian American residents was in the city of San Luis Obispo, which added 528 new residents who identify as Asian between 2010 and 2020 — a 23% increase.
That means those who identify as Asian in San Luis Obispo city make up just under 6% of the city’s population, up from the 5% they comprised at the last census in 2010.
Other cities that saw significant growth in the number of residents who identify as Asian were: Arroyo Grande (a 23% increase), Paso Robles (25% increase), Atascadero (36%) and Pismo Beach (63.5%).
Meanwhile, the number of residents who identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander in San Luis Obispo County dropped by about 1.7% to 340 people in 2020.
Multiracial population more than doubles in San Luis Obispo County
The number of people who identified as multiracial (two or more races) more than doubled in San Luis Obispo County between 2010 and 2020.
According to the data, that group grew from about 6,230 in 2010 to 13,614 in 2020 — a 118% increase.
As of 2020, about 4.8% of the San Luis Obispo County population identifies as multiracial.
Across the county, the number of people who identify as two or more races doubled in all but three communities — Grover Beach where it increased by 84%, Santa Margarita where it increased by 52.5% and San Simeon where it grew by 33%.
Because of smaller population sizes, some of the percentage changes are subject to big swings, like in Creston where the number of multi-racial residents grew by 500% with an increase of five new residents identifying as two or more races between 2010 and 2020.
SLO County’s white and Black populations shrink in 2020
While some racial groups saw substantial growth between 2010 and 2020, others saw declines.
San Luis Obispo County’s white population shrunk by about 4% in the decade, according to the census data, continuing several decades of shrinking as the county grows more diverse.
As of 2020, 183,468 people identified as white in San Luis Obispo County — roughly 65% of the county’s total population.
The whitest communities across San Luis Obispo County were all situated along the coast — Pismo Beach (77.6% white), Cayucos (81%) and Avila Beach (82.6%) — though all of them saw their white populations shrink as they became more diverse over the past decade.
Though the number of people who identify as white still make up a majority of residents in most San Luis Obispo County cities, several communities are getting closer to non-white majorities.
According to the data, the white population in Nipomo dropped by 4.6% in 2020, bringing the total percentage of residents who identify as white to 47.6%. At the same time the Hispanic population grew to 44% of the total population — meaning if the trend continues through the next census, Nipomo could soon have a Hispanic majority.
San Luis Obispo County’s Black population also shrunk between 2010 and 2020.
According to the latest census data, the number of people who identify as Black in the county dropped from 5,128 in 2010 to 4,330 in 2020 — a 15.6% decline over the decade.
As of 2020, residents who identify as Black comprise 1.5% of the total San Luis Obispo County population.
Arroyo Grande and Morro Bay reported the largest increases in the number of residents who identify as Black, with 40 and 36 more Black residents, respectively, in 2020 than in 2010. In San Luis Obispo, the county’s largest city, the number of residents who identify as Black grew by only 29 people, an increase of just under 7%.
In the North County, the number of people identifying as Black dropped significantly, with both Atascadero and Paso Robles reporting declines.
Atascadero saw the biggest change, with 115 fewer residents who identified as Black in 2020 than in 2010. That meant Atascadero lost almost one-fifth of its Black population in the past decade, bringing the total number of Black residents to 436 people.
Meanwhile, Paso Robles’ Black population dropped by 49 people, a 9% decrease over 2010. That brought the total number of people who identify as Black in Paso Robles to 480.
The county’s American Indian and Alaska Native population also declined in the past decade, dropping just under 17% to 1,136 people in 2020.
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