Medina County is slightly more racially diverse in 2024 compared to 2020, according to latest estimates from the Census Bureau

According to the most recent estimates from the Census Bureau, Medina County's population was slightly more racially diverse in 2024 than it was in 2020. The Census Bureau estimates Medina County's total population in 2024 was 184,625, and people of color made up 7.7 percent of the population. In the 2020 Census, people of color were 6.8 percent of the county's population. The largest racial group in Medina County is still non-Hispanic white, with 170,350 residents, according to 2024 estimates. There were 308 more white residents in the county compared to 2020, which is a 0.2 percent change. Hispanic is the second-biggest group in Medina County with 5,389 residents as of last year. Compared to 2020, there were 800 more Hispanic residents in 2024, which is a 17.4 percent change. The third-largest group of residents in the county in 2024 was non-Hispanic Black, in which there were 3,045 people. There were 370 more Black residents in the county last year than there were in 2020, which amounts to a 13.8 percent change. "Non-Hispanic other" and multirace had the second-highest percent change for all groups at 14.6 percent. Last year, 2,804 people were part of the category, which is 358 more people than 2020. There were 2,725 non-Hispanic Asian residents in the county last year, which is 14 percent greater than 2020. There was an increase of 335 people. American Indian and Alaska Native was the only group to have an estimated decrease in population. There were 271 American Indian and Alaska Native residents in the county in 2024, which was eight less people than in 2020. Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders were the smallest group of Medina County residents. Since 2020, the population is estimated to have increased by two people, which is a total of 41 residents. "Those are minor changes, but I think they're significant in a way that people feel that our county might be welcoming to them," Pam Miller from the Medina Diversity Project said. The Medina Diversity Project started around 10 years ago. The group has since facilitated discussions and held programs in support of diversity. "We want our community to be a welcoming community for everybody," Miller said. The project's mission statement is to "embrace and promote social, cultural and economic diversity throughout Medina County." She said the mission statement is important because Medina County is still a pretty homogenous area. "We should recognize that there is diversity in our society and be aware of it," Miller said. "Also, be aware of prejudice and bigotry and make sure that we overcome that by recognizing diversity and getting to know people who are different from yourself." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.