In commemoration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, let’s explore how the AAPI population has helped shape the rich diversity of the Atlanta region. Over the past few decades, this community has played an integral role in transforming Atlanta into a more vibrant and multicultural metropolis.
A Growing Presence
According to Decennial Census figures, the AAPI population of the 11-County ARC region has grown from only about 1.9% of the population in 1990 to just over 7.7% in 2020. Figure 1 presents the change over time both for the region as a whole and broken down by county.
Figure 1: Percent Non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander by County, 1990-2020
As Figure 1 at top left shows, the increase in percentage Asian or Pacific Islander in the 11-County region over this 30-year period is almost perfectly linear– an increase of about 2 percentage points per decade. But the growth hasn’t been uniform across all counties. While Cherokee and Douglas counties have remained relatively flat, Cobb, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, and Gwinnett have seen steady increases. Interestingly, Forsyth County has experienced meteoric growth in the last 20 years. Meanwhile, Clayton and Rockdale counties saw declines in their AAPI population percentages over the last decade.
Where Do AAPI Residents Call Home?
The Asian American and Pacific Islander community isn’t just growing– it’s also shaping some neighborhoods across the region. Figure 2 below displays the percentage AAPI population by Census tract, according to the 2020 Census.
Figure 2: Percent Non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander by Census Tract, 2020
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2020, DHC Table P5
Figure 2 shows that the heaviest concentration of AAPI population is in the northeastern part of the Atlanta region, between I-85 and Georgia 400 in northern Fulton, northern Gwinnett, and southern Forsyth counties. There are also significant pockets in northern (Dunwoody) and central (around Clarkston) DeKalb county. Smaller concentrations can be found in Clayton County (around Lake City and Morrow), Fayette (Peachtree City and Tyrone), unincorporated areas in east Cobb, and Gwinnett County south of I-85.
However, the AAPI population is incredibly diverse, encompassing various cultures and nationalities. Treating it as a monolithic group overlooks fascinating patterns of settlement. How have different ethnic communities found distinct enclaves in Atlanta? We’ll explore this in another post next week.
Notes:
Link to the data utilized in the graph: 11 County ARC Asian x County Time Series, 1990-2020
Link to the data found in the map: AAPI x Tract 2020