National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

  • September 8, 2014
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Photo via Flickr

During National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15th – Oct 15th), America recognizes the contributions, culture and heritage of Spanish Americans. In honor of this upcoming celebration, we’ve compiled our favorite fun facts just for you. Check them out below!

Did You Know?

  • National Hispanic Heritage Month started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15th.
  • The day of September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for the following Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
  • The theme of this year’s celebration is: “Hispanics: A legacy of history, a present of action and a future of success.”
  • Celebrations for National Hispanic Heritage Month include film screenings, concerts, festivals and museum exhibits. Many schools celebrate the month by learning about the contributions of Hispanic Americans both past and present.
  • The projected Hispanic population of the U.S. in 2060 is 128.8 million. According to this projection, the Hispanic population will constitute 31 % of the nation’s total population.
  • There are 16 states with at least a half-million Hispanic residents; they are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
  • Famous actors and actresses with Hispanic heritage include Desi Arnaz, Lynda Carter, Sammy Davis Jr., Cameron Diaz, Emilio Estevez, America Ferrera, Andy Garcia, Salma Hayek, Rita Hayworth, Raul Julia, Jennifer Lopez, Anthony Quinn and Charlie Sheen.
  • There are 1.1 million Hispanics or Latinos (18 or older) who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States.
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month has been featured on Sesame Street.

What fun facts would you add to this list? We encourage you to post your comments below. Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month from everyone at LSA!