Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
6-2014
Abstract
This report provides a snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in Pittsfield. It reflects a commitment by UMass Boston’s Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy to provide periodic updates on the Latino population in Massachusetts.
The report on Pittsfield is part of a larger series that covers cities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a significant population of Latinos. This report analyzes data from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. We obtained the data from the American Factfinder website in tabular form and transformed these data into the figures presented in this report. The snapshot of current educational outcomes in the city of Pittsfield is based on publicly available data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MADESE).
Pittsfield is considered a Gateway City. A Gateway City is a midsized city (35,000–250,000 people) that was once an industrial center but did not transition economically as well as cities with high-tech industries. Gateway cities rank below the statewide average in regard to both household income and educational attainment.
In this report Latinos are compared to non-Latino whites, blacks, and Asians, based on individuals’ racial identification. Since ACS data is collected from a sample of the population, there is some variation associated with each population estimate. The number of ethno-racial groups included in a particular analysis may vary since each group is included in the analysis only when the observed sample size is large enough to produce reliable population estimates.
The Census Bureau identifies Latinos through a question that asks respondents to choose either “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino.” A separate question asks about race. This report uses the term “Latino” to include all those who selected “Hispanic or Latino” on the Census form, regardless of racial designation.
As the third largest city in western Massachusetts, Pittsfield is home to an estimated 2,250 Latinos. Latinos represent approximately one-twentieth (5.1%) of the city’s population, approximately the same proportion of the population as blacks and greater than the proportion of Asians.
Community Engaged/Serving
Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. http://scholarworks.umb.edu/engage
Recommended Citation
Granberry, Phillip; Rustan, Sarah; Fontes, Mayara; and Berardino, Michael, "Latinos in Massachusetts Selected Areas: Pittsfield" (2014). Gastón Institute Publications. 190.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/190