The U.S. Latino population drove more than half of the country’s population growth between 2000-2010 and now accounts for approximately 17 percent of Americans, according to data from the U.S. Census. Increases in Hispanic residents topped estimates in most states, and are on track to be nearly a million more nationwide than previously anticipated, a Pew Hispanic Center analysis of the data shows.

What's different about this round of Latino population growth as compared to previous decades is that the most rapid surges have taken place in the South, in states such as North Carolina and Louisiana.

Another surprising demographic development was that numeric growth of Asian-Americans in the last decade was higher than that of African-Americans. The share of children who belong to any minority group has passed 50 percent in 10 states, up from five states in 2000.

This really is a transformational decade for the nation, says William H. Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. The 2010 census shows vividly how these new minorities are both leading growth in the nation's most dynamic regions and stemming decline in others.

The nation's largest racial group, Caucasians, inched up a bit in terms of overall numbers, but their segment of the overall population shrunk, going from 69 percent to about 64 percent.

Source: New milestone: 1 in 6 in US is Hispanic, Associated Press, Hope Yen