Latinos in Massachusetts Selected Areas: Chicopee

Authors

Phillip Granberry, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
Victor Luis Martins, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
Michelle Borges, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow

Document Type

Research Report

Publication Date

7-2023

Abstract

Chicopee has a population of 55,560, of whom 13,027 identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2020 Decennial Census. The majority of the city identifies as non- Latino White, while Latinos are the second largest population, comprising 23.4% of the population. Latinos' share of the city’s population is almost twice as high as in the Massachusetts overall population, which is only 12.6% Latino. Black, Asian, and “other” populations make up 9.8% of the city’s population.

Chicopee underwent significant population shifts between 2010 and 2020, even though its population increased by only 0.5%, much slower than the statewide increase of 7.4%. The Latino population increase of 58.9% kept the city from having a population decline over the decade. Statewide, the Latino population grew by 41.4% during this same time. The larger White population of Chicopee declined by 15.6%, while the smaller Black population grew at a faster rate of 44.5%, and the Asian population grew by 25.9%.

The remainder of this profile uses 2017–2021 American Community Survey data to analyze the demographic and economic characteristics presented in this profile.

The Latino population in Chicopee, much like that of neighboring Springfield, is dominated by Puerto Ricans, who number 11,081. Other smaller Latino populations include Dominicans, Salvadorans, Mexicans, and Peruvians, though each group numbers less than 300 persons. Statewide, the five largest Latino populations in Massachusetts in order of size are Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Mexicans.

Because of its high number of Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens, Chicopee has a small foreign-born population, making up only 8.5% of the city’s residents (compared to 17.3% statewide). Only 4.7% of Latinos in Chicopee are foreign-born, compared to 32.1% for the entire state. (Note that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by birth, whether born on the island or the mainland).

Community Engaged/Serving

Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. //scholarworks.umb.edu/engage

Recommended Citation

Granberry, Phillip; Martins, Victor Luis; and Borges, Michelle, "Latinos in Massachusetts Selected Areas: Chicopee" (2023). Gastón Institute Publications. 298.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/298