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PHOTO: RICHARD CUMMINS/LPI |
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Best Cities to Call Home
Looking for that place your heart yearns for, that city of your dreams where jobs are available, housing is affordable, the streets are drivable, and the schools are great? That town where Hispanics are welcomed as honest, hard-working members of the human race and no one is ever going to say an unpleasant word or pass laws aimed at immigrants? Well, keep looking. That perfect town doesn't exist-but we've come up with cities that come close. In our quest to find a near-perfect city, we took a holistic approach in our ranking. While some cities like Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, have the fastest growing Hispanic populations, other factors such as the strong presence of well-established Hispanic organizations in Kansas City, Missouri, outweighed simple statistical measures. Also considered were promising developments. Orlando, Florida-beyond its year-round tourism-is experiencing a financial vitality as it replaces other, more traditional, Hispanic markets; while Louisville, Kentucky, with its large increase in Hispanic population, provides a wealth of educational and religious services for the newly arrived, creating an admirable mix of old and new residents. The one factor, however, that all of our top picks share is excellent opportunities for a good quality of life.
The 2000 U.S. Census startled many with data showing that Hispanics are searching for homes outside the big population centers of California, New York, and Texas. People are tired of spending much of their lives jammed into the most complex freeway systems in the world and not being able to afford a house closer than two hours from where they work. Hispanics want what everyone wants, with the added factor of ethnic acceptance. Here are five cities you might want to consider: Kansas City, Missouri; Tampa, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and Orlando, Florida. All qualify as Hispanic-friendly places, and we will tell you why. Florida gets the nod twice-among its pluses is the weather. Although our selection process was informal and subjective, we think we've found some new and surprising hot spots you would be happy to call home. Kansas City, Missouri, has an ideal combination of big-city amenities and Midwestern friendliness. Cristóbal Medina is one resident who is waiting with open arms if you to relocate to his city of dreams. "We're proud of our community and we welcome people," the Guadalupe Center's executive director says enthusiastically. Established in 1919, the center is one of the nation's oldest Hispanic organizations, which tells you something about the city's deep Hispanic roots. An unapologetic Kansas City booster, Medina says everyone is always telling him, "I can't believe how friendly people are." The Guadalupe Center offers a variety of services, including a preschool, grade school, charter high school, senior center, youth recreation center, job placement center, and more. While in some communities Hispanic social service organizations struggle to meet the community's needs, this city has dozens of well-funded agencies. The National Council of La Raza has not one but six affiliates in Kansas City. While statistics say that Hispanics are at least 1.5 times more likely to die from diabetes than non-Hispanics, organizations like the Kansas City Chronic Disease Coalition (KC-CDC) are working hard to completely close this ethnic gap by the year 2010. By partnering with local vendors and churches, the KC-CDC continues to educate Hispanics about how to fight and prevent diabetes and other Hispanic-prevalent diseases. Jobs are available at the big Ford and General Motors plants, and Sprint and Hallmark Cards, all noted for their Hispanic-friendly ratings. Entrepreneur magazine ranks Kansas City among the top cities for supporting small businesses. Housing? Great news. Medina says that in the West Side-home to a Hispanic community established in the 1900s-older houses go for $30,000 to $50,000; and it is still possible to move into a new home for $100,000. Add to the city's list of assets, plentiful Hispanic media outlets. Two Spanish-language radio stations and a leading bilingual newspaper Dos Mundos (Two Worlds), with a 25,000 weekly circulation, keep Hispanics abreast of current issues. Want to finish up that degree? Perhaps get another one? Excellent schools, including 14 colleges and universities are sure to get you to that next step. If you are a sports nut, the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs help tip the balance sheet even more in Kansas City's favor. While Kansas City does not have the fastest growing Hispanic population, it comes as no surprise that it is on the rise. With its abundance of amenities and overall good quality of life, Kansas City is both inviting and deserving of being our top pick for new Hispanic-friendly cities. Median cost of a house: $150,400. For more information, visit the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Greater Kansas City website, the Kansas City Convention and Visitors' Bureau website, or call 816-472-6767. Next on the list is the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida, area, a group of cities clustered around Tampa Bay on Florida's western coast. This metropolitan area is not only a place to spend the winter, but a place to spend your life. It is one of the "new" Hispanic destinations, according to a study by the Pew Hispanic Center. Not that Hispanics have suddenly discovered it. Cuban cigar makers established their factories in Tampa almost 150 years ago. Places Rated Almanac ranks the Tampa cluster number four out of 354 metro areas considered great places to live, and for good reasons. The weather's one, of course, but there's also a robust job market, a thriving port, two international airports, an air force base, and a relatively affluent Hispanic community that hosts a crowded social calendar of activities. "Forget Hispanic Heritage Month," says Cloe Cabrera, "here we have Hispanic Heritage season!" Hispanic affairs reporter for the Tampa Tribune, Cabrera notes that the season runs from September through most of December and includes everything from ethnic food festivals to networking events. Need more socializing, amigos? Head for Ybor City, a restored Hispanic historic district bustling with nightclubs, restaurants, and movie theaters. Try a stroll, run, or bicycle ride down Bayshore Boulevard and you will see why the tri-city area's Hispanic population increased 83 percent between 1990 and 2000. Median cost of a house: $150,200. For more information, visit the Tampa Bay Hispanic Chamber of Commerce website, the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors' Bureau website, or call 813-414-9411. Then there is Louisville, Kentucky, where the Hispanic population has shot up an amazing 227 percent between 1990 and 2000. Unlike the jangled quality many big cities have, there is a "sweetness" about Louisville. Despite a population of close to one million, the city has managed to retain a lot of its old-style Southern charm, which merges well with the Hispanic influx. The recent and ethnically diverse migration has turned the city from a bastion of Southern white dominance to a multicultural mecca. In Jefferson County alone, 50 to 60 percent of newly arrived children are Hispanic. English as Second Language (ESL) and bilingual classes are available to accommodate them. Parishes of all denominations have Spanish-speaking priests or pastors. Once famous for its mint juleps, today Louisville also celebrates mango martinis and traditional Mexican margaritas. Once famous for its Hot Brown sandwich-a somewhat unusual combination of turkey, melted cheese, and bacon slathered in cream gravy-nowadays walking the restaurant-lined streets, you will find food from Cuba, Perú, and Mexico. The world-famous Kentucky Derby is still the number one social attraction on Louisville's calendar, but the Americana World Festival, which celebrates the city's cultural diversity, is becoming a big draw. When you consider the heart-stopping roller coasters at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, the Louisville Zoo, the competition among the 32 teams of the Liga Deportiva (soccer), and the hot Mexican bands at El Paraíso, you get a good picture of a city that knows how to have fun. Median cost of a house: $135,000. For more information, e-mail hlcoalition@ka.net, visit Louisville Convention and Visitors' Bureau website or call 502-589-8742. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, is next on our list of great areas. In 1994, it was ranked the best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine; today it's the country's fastest-growing new Hispanic destination, with a 1,180 percent increase over the past 20 years, according to the Pew study. Booming textile, poultry, and furniture industries, plus military bases in and around the area, lure newcomers. So does a Forbes.com third-place ranking as being among the Best Places for Business and Careers. Right in the center of the state, Raleigh-Durham boasts four mild seasons, a friendly atmosphere, a progressive outlook, and a pace you will never find in Dallas or Manhattan. City and county governments-and the Hispanic community itself-are scrambling to help newcomers find their way in an area with a population of fewer than half a million. The Latino Credit Union, an indicator of both growth and trust, now has branches in Raleigh and Durham. "There's been a proliferation of Spanish-speaking church ministries and more bilingual people in the schools," says H. Nolo Martínez, director of Hispanic/Latino affairs for the governor's office. "The state has been able to establish an all-inclusive process for obtaining documentation needed to do transactions in the city-to get a driver's license, open bank accounts, start a business, use the libraries." Martínez admits that requiring its new citizens to have both a proficiency in English and an understanding of the system is a challenge. Newcomers often settle in Raleigh-Durham without either of those abilities. As the fastest-growing new Hispanic city in the country, however, the area should overcome such challenges with time. Median cost of a house: $180,900. For more information, visit the North Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce website, the Raleigh Convention and Visitors' Bureau website, the Durham Convention and Visitors' Bureau website, or call 919-828-6087. Orlando, Florida, is often thought of, and rightly so, as a place to play. With Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios luring the crowds, it is hard to visualize Orlando beyond its thrill rides, frolicking dolphins, and movie magic. The flourishing business climate, however, makes this central Florida city one of America's fastest-growing Hispanic locales, one reason we placed it in the top five. A booming Hispanic population makes Orlando a thriving new market for investment dollars flowing from Latin America. "Miami is such a mature market that Hispanic investors are looking for new markets, like central Florida," says Ramón Ojeda, president of metro Orlando's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "It's a very attractive opportunity to get a new start." Almost every city, no matter how ideal, has problems. In Orlando, they include a lack of full access to health care, social services, and transportation for new immigrants. However, change is in the wind. Area Hispanics are better educated than the national average and occupy more white- than blue-collar jobs. They are an important part of the change that could make Orlando that city of your dreams. With its subtropical climate and more than 300,000 acres of lakes and rivers-not to mention being flanked by Daytona Beach and Tampa Beach-Orlando is not only a "new-start" city-it's also a fun city. Median cost of a house: $154,000. For more information, visit the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce website for Greater Orlando, the Orlando Convention and Visitors' Bureau website, or call 407-428-5870. Now, check out our web-exclusive checklist of 19 ways to determine the city that's best for you. |
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