Census Shows Population Increases Slightly in Long Beach

A five-year study released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau shows a slight increase in Long Beach's population over the past decade. Long Beach now has approximately 35,815 residents, up 353 from the 35,462 who called the city home in 2000.

Among those reporting one race alone in 2010, the black population in the city is 6.4 percent, up slightly from 6.2 percent in 2000. Whites make up 83 percent of the population, down slightly from 84 percent a decade ago. The Hispanic population showed a decline from 12.8 percent to 9 percent, while the Asian population rose from 2 percent to 4 percent.

Additional figures released in the study show that the median age rose in the city, from 39.6 in 2000 to 44.7 in 2010, as did the medium income, from $68,222 in 1999 dollars to $77,909 in 2010.  

The study also shows that the leading industry in Long Beach is educational services, health care and social assistance, at 29 percent. The most common occupations were management, professional and related occupations at 48 percent.

This latest data comes from the 2005-2009 American Community Survey (ACS), which collects population and housing information annually on each community. While results of the 2010 U.S. Census won't be released until February, much of the information revealed by the ACS can be compared to the data from the 2000 U.S. Census.