Hispanics become Bluffton's largest minority group

Hispanics are now the largest minority group in Bluffton.

Out of a total population of just under 14,000, 2,616 residents -- 18.7 percent -- identify as Hispanic, according to data from the recently released U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

The town's Hispanic population grew by about 300 residents between 2013 and 2014.

Meanwhile, the African-American population dropped by about 100 residents during that period, despite an overall town population growth.

The town's total population in 2014 was 13,979, up from 12,972 in 2013.

In 2014, 2,427 Blufftonians identified as black -- 17.4 percent of the town's population, down from 19.4 percent in 2013 and 20 percent in 2012.

The explosive growth of the Hispanic community is thrown into sharp relief by historical census data which shows a nearly 3,400 percent population boom since 2000, when there were only 76 Hispanics living in town.

FINDING OPPORTUNITY

Hispanics have flocked to the area over the past decade due what Eric Esquivel calls "the natural law of economics."

Esquivel is the co-chairman of the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition and publisher of La Isla Magazine.

"Like areas all around the country with growing Latino communities, they move (to Bluffton) to find opportunity," he said. "They found opportunity here in the construction, tourism and the service industries."

Moses Sanchez, owner of the Bluffton-based Spanish language station Radio Sol 1430 AM, agreed.

"Everybody has opportunity in Bluffton. It's the United States, the land of opportunity," he said.

Esquivel also said anecdotal evidence suggests many Hispanics who rented apartments on Hilton Head as young adults moved to Bluffton -- where property is less expensive -- when they decided to start families and buy property.

Census data appears to indicate that as the local Hispanic population has grown, its economic fortunes have improved.

The unemployment rate among Hispanics dropped from 17.3 percent in 2013 to 11.9 percent last year. Poverty rates also fell during that time period.

"But there are definitely still some economic challenges," Esquivel said.

"Businesses are opening their eyes to the opportunities (created by potential new) Hispanic customers and employees, but not as fast as they should be," he said.

ADJUSTING TO THE GROWING COMMUNITY

Local agencies and government organizations have taken notice.

Bluffton's town website now offers Spanish versions of forms, documents and codes, and there is also a Spanish-speaking staffer who can help translate interactions at the town's customer service center.

"The town and its staff do a good job to try to accommodate (non-English speakers) and work through language barriers," Esquivel said.

In emergency situations, "there's always a need for communication," which can be difficult when victims don't speak English, Bluffton Township Fire District spokesman Capt. Randy Hunter said.

Last year, district volunteers responded to an incident in which a woman was hit by a car.

The victim's injuries were not immediately apparent, and because she only spoke Spanish, emergency responders were unsure what treatment to provide.

Luckily, Zabdi Baltazar was on the scene.

Baltazar, a fluent Spanish speaker, is a Bluffton High School senior and member of the district's Explorer Program, which trains young people interested in careers in emergency services.

Baltazar said she calmly spoke to the victim in Spanish "to find out what hurt and where it hurt."

Baltazar's translation helped ensure the victim received the proper care on scene.

The Bluffton Police Department recently launched a 24-hour tip line that allows Spanish speakers to leave anonymous messages to help fight crime.

More communication with the Hispanic community "is something that has been recognized by the department as a real need," police spokeswoman Joy Nelson said.

"We really want to build a partnership between us and the Hispanic community," she said. "We want them to trust us; we want them to know that we are here to help them."

The department has three officers fluent in Spanish.

If a tip is left on the new hotline, one of these officers will follow up with caller, Nelson said.

MORE HELP NEEDED

Despite these advances, some say the town and local agencies could do more to help Hispanics, many of whom are recent immigrants, assimilate to their new town.

Without more language classes, job skills programs and affordable housing options, "we are cutting off our nose to spite our face," Esquivel said.

Sanchez, who hosts a daily talk radio show, said, "Housing is the most important thing here in Bluffton."

But many of his listeners struggle to navigate the rental or home buying process, he said.

Sanchez brings Spanish-speaking real estate agents on the show to answer questions and help guide listeners through the process.

The station also invites immigration lawyers and law enforcement officials to participate in on-air discussions and offer advice.

Beaufort County Housing Authority director Angela Childers said her agency does "outreach and marketing in (Hispanic communities)" to inform residents about housing programs.

And even though rental applications and forms are available in Spanish, "the process can be daunting" for those without experience or strong English skills, she said.

Some of Childers' staff "speak limited Spanish" and there have been occasions when translators have been brought in to bridge the language barrier, she said.

SLOW TO ENTER POLITICS

Even with their growing numbers, local Hispanics have been slow to enter the political sphere, despite being courted by local groups representing both major political parties.

Greater Bluffton Republican Club president Joe Iaco said he considers the Hispanic community "a very valuable voting block" with a "natural home in the Republican party."

On the other side of the political spectrum, Beaufort County Democratic Party chairman Blaine Lotz said his group has "gone to pockets of the community where Hispanics live and work and worked very hard to build a voter registration program."

But still, Hispanics remain "underrepresented on voter rolls," he said.

Sanchez said he doesn't talk about local politics on his show very often because he's not an expert on the subject.

"But (town officials) are welcome to come to the station," he said. "We can even have someone translate everything they say to our community."

As is the case throughout Beaufort County, Hispanic residents are not well represented among Bluffton's elected and appointed government positions.

Bluffton's incoming town council is made up of an African-American man, three white men and a white woman.

"There's long been a dearth of candidates of from a Latin background," Iaco said.

Esquivel said he is confident that Hispanic government officials "will emerge naturally" in the not-too-distant future.

"But we need to encourage Latino community members to be leaders," he said.

Related content:

• Beaufort County board diversity: Close on ethnicity, not enough women, Dec. 8, 2015
• As population booms, Hispanic-owned businesses thrive in southern Beaufort County, June 16, 2012
• 2010 census sheds light on who we are, April 3, 2011

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Hispanics become Bluffton's largest minority group."