Association affairs

Segregation and diversity measures are meant to reflect extent of integration. Based on population counts gathered for enumeration units, these areal-based measures are sensitive to the spatial scale at which the data are tabulated. They are also not effective in capturing various types of assimilation affected by spatial distance among ethnic groups. This paper proposes to use the multiethnic household as a measure of ethnic integration and social assimilation. Using 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS), the percentage of multiethnic households is derived for each state and Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) to indicate integration. Based upon the results, Hawaii and Alaska have extremely high levels of integration. The west and southwest are more integrated than the rest of the U.S., with the exceptions of Oklahoma and several states along the east coast. The least integrated region includes several Appalachian states. The PUMA-level analysis reveals a great deal of variation in ethnic integration within states.