Results of the 2010 U.S. Census have placed official numbers on what residents already knew-the Highline area has become a much more diverse place to live.
According to data from the U.S. Census, analyzed by the Seattle Times, minorities in the cities of SeaTac and Tukwila are a majority of their cities' population.
The New York Times has declared Tukwila schools the most diverse school district in the country. In the Highline School District, 80 nationalities are represented and 70 different languages are spoken, according to district officials.
The census figures demonstrate that members of minority groups have moved out of Seattle's Central District, Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill to join immigrants and refugees in the south suburbs of Highline.
While only 6.6 percent of Seattleites are Hispanic or Latino, 20.7 percent of Burien and 20.3 percent of SeaTac's population are Hispanic or Latino.
Blacks or African Americans represent 7.7 percent of Seattle's population. In Tukwila, it is 17.5 percent and in SeaTac, the figure is 16.6 percent.
Asians or Pacific Islanders are 14.1 percent of Seattle's population while 21.6 percent of Tukwila residents and 17.9 percent of SeaTac residents are Asian or Pacific Islander.
Overall, Seattle has a minority population of 29.9 percent, compared to 57.3 percent in Tukwila and 55.9 percent in SeaTac.
The 2010 census figures are already badly out of date for Burien since they do not include 14,500 residents of the south part of North Highline who annexed into the city almost a year ago.
According to the outdated figures, Burien's population rose from 31,881 in 2000 to 33,313 in 2010. That is a 4.5 percent increase. The number of minorities in Burien grew 57.8 percent in the ten-year period.
Hispanics or Latinos, at 20.7 percent of the population, make up Burien's largest minority group followed by Asians or Pacific Islanders, 11.6 percent; Blacks or African Americans, 5.5 percent and American Indians and Alaska Natives, 0.9 percent. Burien's population is 38.7 percent minority.
In Des Moines, the population has risen a slight 1.4 percent from 29,267 to 29,673.
The percentage of minority population has grown 50.5 percent. Hispanics or Latinos are 15.2 percent of Des Moines' population; Asians or Pacific Islanders are 12.8 percent; Blacks or African Americans, 8.8 percent and American Indians and Alaska Natives, 0.9 percent. Some 37.7 percent of Des Moines residents belong to a minority group.
SeaTac's population has grown 5.5 percent from 25,496 in 2000 to 26,909 in 2010. Its minority population has increased 50.4 percent.
Hispanics or Latinos make up 20.3 percent of the residents, followed by Asian or Pacific Islander, 17.9 percent; Black or African American, 20.3 percent and American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1 percent.
Normandy Park is the anomaly among Highline cities. The city's population actually shrank a small .9 percent, going from 6,392 to 6,335 in ten years. Minorities constitute 12.7 percent of Normandy Park's residents.
Asians or Pacific Islanders are 6.1 percent of Normandy Park's population and Hispanics or Latinos are 5.2 percent. Blacks or African Americans make up .8 percent and American Indians and Alaska Natives are .6 percent.
Tukwila's population is 19,107, up 11.2 percent from 17,181.
It's easy to see why the New York Times singled out Tukwila schools for their even diversity. Hispanics or Latinos and Blacks or African Americans each constitute 17.5 percent of the population. Asians or Pacific Islanders make up the largest minority with 21.6 percent. American Indians and Alaska Natives are .7 percent.