Demographics of Utica, New York facts for kids
This article is all about the people who live in Utica, New York. We'll look at things like how many people live there, their ages, and where they come from. This helps us understand what makes Utica a special and diverse city.
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People and Homes in Utica
Utica is a city in New York. In 2010, about 62,235 people lived there. This means there were about 3,818 people living in each square mile. Utica is the tenth largest city in New York. It's also the main city in the Mohawk Valley area.
The number of people living in the wider Utica-Rome area changed a bit. It went from about 299,397 in 2010 to 296,615 by 2014.
In 2010, about a quarter of Utica's people were under 18 years old. About 12% were young adults aged 18 to 24. Another quarter were adults aged 25 to 44. People aged 45 to 64 made up about 23% of the population. Finally, about 15% of the people were 65 years or older. The average age in Utica was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, there were about 92 males.
There were about 25,100 homes in Utica in 2010. In about 27% of these homes, children under 18 lived there. About 35% of homes had married couples. In 17% of homes, a female was the head of the house without a husband. About 43% of homes were not families. Many people (37%) lived alone. About 15% of homes had someone living alone who was 65 or older. On average, about 2.28 people lived in each home.
The average yearly income for a home in Utica was $24,916. For families, the average income was $33,818. About 24.5% of all people in Utica lived with very little money. This included 38% of those under 18. It also included 12% of those aged 65 and over.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 17,565 | — | |
| 1860 | 22,529 | 28.3% | |
| 1870 | 28,804 | 27.9% | |
| 1880 | 33,914 | 17.7% | |
| 1890 | 44,007 | 29.8% | |
| 1900 | 56,383 | 28.1% | |
| 1910 | 74,419 | 32.0% | |
| 1920 | 94,156 | 26.5% | |
| 1930 | 101,740 | 8.1% | |
| 1940 | 100,518 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 100,489 | 0.0% | |
| 1960 | 100,410 | −0.1% | |
| 1970 | 91,611 | −8.8% | |
| 1980 | 75,632 | −17.4% | |
| 1990 | 68,637 | −9.2% | |
| 2000 | 60,523 | −11.8% | |
| 2010 | 62,235 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 65,283 | 4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Different Backgrounds in Utica
Utica is known for being a city with many different cultures and backgrounds. It has also welcomed many refugees over the years.
The largest group of people in Utica, according to a 2013 survey, are Italian Americans. They make up about 20% of the city's population. Other large groups include:
- Slavs (18%), which includes people from Poland and Bosnia.
- Irish Americans (11.3%)
- African Americans (10.5%)
- German Americans (10.3%)
- People of English or American background (8%)
- Puerto Ricans (6.8%)
- People from Myanmar (3.5%)
- French and French-Canadians (2.7%)
- Arab and Lebanese people (2%)
People in Utica often connect with the nearby lands of the Oneida Indian Nation.
The US Census also looks at different racial groups in Utica. Here's how the population has changed over time:
| Racial composition | 2010 | 1990 | 1970 | 1950 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 69.0% | 86.7% | 94.1% | 98.4% |
| —Non-Hispanic | 64.5% | 84.8% | 91.2% | n/a |
| Black or African American | 15.3% | 10.5% | 5.6% | 1.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 10.5% | 3.4% | 0.9% | n/a |
| Asian | 7.4% | 1.1% | 0.1% | n/a |
| Other race | 3.9% | 1.5% | 0.1 | n/a |
| Two or more races | 4.0% | n/a | n/a | n/a |
It's important to know that the Iroquois Nations, like the Oneida, have sometimes said they don't want the US Census to count their citizens. They believe this respects their own nation's rules.
Historically, the Oneida and other Iroquois groups lived in what is now Upstate New York. Later, traders from France and the Netherlands came to the area. Then, English and German settlers arrived. Today, these groups make up about 21% of the population.
Later, many Italian and Irish immigrants came to Utica. They faced challenges in the New World but found a home here. Today, they make up about 31% of the population.
African Americans also moved to Utica from the southern US. They were looking for more freedom and better jobs. They now make up about 10.5% of the city.
More recently, people from Eastern Europe and Asia have come to Utica. Many of them are refugees seeking safety. Together, they make up about 25% of the population. People from Latin American countries also make up about 10.5% of the population today.
New Arrivals: Refugees and Immigrants
Since the 1990s, many new immigrants have moved to Utica. This has helped the city's population grow after many years of shrinking. In 2006, almost 60% of the city's people were under 50 years old. This shows that many younger refugees have settled there.
The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees says that one-quarter of Utica's population is made up of refugee families. These families have come from countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vietnam, Italy, Thailand, and Belarus. Bosnian Americans are the largest group of recent immigrants, with over 8,000 people. Other recent groups include people from Myanmar, Sudan, and Somalia.
Languages Spoken in Utica
In 2000, most people (about 80%) in Utica aged 5 and older spoke English at home. But many other languages are also spoken!
- About 5% spoke Spanish.
- About 4.5% spoke Bosnian.
- About 2.4% spoke Italian.
- About 1.6% spoke Polish.
- About 1.5% spoke Russian.
- About 1.5% spoke Vietnamese.
In total, almost 20% of Utica's population aged 5 and over spoke a language other than English at home. This shows how diverse Utica is!
