Currently, around 500,000 to 600,000 people are officially granted US citizenship each year. Intermediate steps on the way are obtaining a temporary immigrant visa and obtaining a permanent residence permit for the USA (“Green Card”). A green card can be obtained, for example, as a highly qualified professional or family member of a US citizen, to a small extent also as part of a raffle or as a refugee.

There are increasing numbers of people living in the USA who cannot be clearly assigned to any of the large population groups and who are growing up bilingual or even multilingual.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS ACCORDING TO POPULATION GROUPS
The population structure of the subregions has become increasingly colorful over the decades: While the African Americans live mainly in the south, but also make up considerable proportions in the northeastern United States and the Midwest, the Hispanics live mainly in the southwest, but also in the northwest, in Illinois (Chicago) and on the east coast.

Of all population groups, Asians are most oriented towards cities. They are mainly found in the major metropolitan areas of the United States. The only exception is California, where Asians have comparatively high proportions in all parts of the state. The indigenous population is only a small minority in most federal states, even if their total number of three million people (2012) has now reached the level before the arrival of the Europeans and has probably even exceeded it.

Meanwhile, in addition to the capital Washington, there are states such as California, Hawaii, New Mexico and Texas, which are characterized by a “Majority of Minorities”. California is typical of the population structure of these states.

The USA as the “Melting Pot of Nations”, where immigrants become Americans through a process of cultural exchange and mutual assimilation, this model of people of different origins living together in a common nation has undoubtedly proven to be a myth. The social reality of the United States has historically been determined by the dominance of an Anglo-Saxon culture and way of life. In view of the changing population structure, there are many indications that the USA will develop more in the direction of a multi-ethnic society in the future and thus follow a model that is popularly known as the “salad bowl”. For more information about the continent of North America, please check constructmaterials.com.