With relatively high fertility and growing legal and illegal immigration, the United States' Hispanic population increased by 265% from an estimated 4 million in 1950 to 14.6 million (6.4% of the total population counted in the 1980 census). Hispanics consist of Mexican Americans (60% of the total), concentrated in the Southwest; Puerto Ricans living mainly in New York and New Jersey; Cubans headquartered in Florida; and the second largest, more scattered "Other Hispanic" group from 16 other Latin American countries and Spain, plus some Mexican Americans established many generations in the Southwest. Compared to 75% of the general population, 88% of Hispanics live in metropolitan areas. Except for Cubans, Hispanics are younger (median age 23) than the national average (median age 30 in 1980), and have higher fertility (2.5 versus 1.8 births per woman). Hispanic occupational status and educational attainment still lag far behind the average and unemployment is 40-50% higher; Hispanic families average 70% of the median income and 2.7 times the poverty rate of all white families. Young Hispanics, Cubans in particular, are beginning to catch up. The bulletin includes 5 figures, 15 tables, brief life stories of 4 Hispanics, photographs, and a map showing states where most Hispanics live. (Author/MH).