2010 Census - Martinez Lost 42 People

The City of Martinez has shrunk by 42 people over the past 10 years, according to the U.S. Census figures released Tuesday. The population is 35,824, compared with the 2000 total of 35,866.

But there has been growth, particularly in the number of Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans.

In 2000, there were 3,660 Hispanics living in Martinez, or 10.2 percent of the population; in 2010 that number increased to 5,258, or 14.7 percent.

There were 2,376 Asians living here in 2000, and 2,876 living here in 2010.

The number of African-Americans also rose though at a more modest rate. In 2000, there were 1,201 African-Americans living in Martinez; in 2010, that figure was 1,303.

Whites made up 81 percent of the population in 2000, at 29,064; in 2010 it was 77.1 percent, or 27,603.

California appears to be moving toward the middle – at least when it comes to where residents call home.

According to Census Bureau figures, the state’s population rose 10 percent from April 2000 to April 2010, going from 33.8 million residents to 37.2 million.

Most of that growth appears to have come in the counties that span the middle of the state.

Riverside County had the biggest jump, increasing 41 percent from 2000 to 2010. The city of Beaumont in that county leaped 224 percent from 11,384 to 36,887 people.

Next was Placer County with a 40 percent jump. The city of Lincoln skyrocketed 282 percent from 11,205 to 42,819 people.

Other counties that grew more than 20 percent included Imperial, Kern, Madera, Merced and Tulare.

Los Angeles County’s population edged up 3 percent. San Francisco County’s population also rose 3 percent, while San Diego County jumped 10 percent.

The only counties that saw population decreases were in the Sierra Nevada: Alpine County (down 3 percent), Plumas County (down 4 percent) and Sierra County (down 9 percent).

Associate Regional Editor David Mills contributed to this story.