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Study: D.C. Area Ranks Fourth In Ethnic Diversity

By: Armando Trull // September 7, 2012
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The Washington, D.C. region is at the forefront of ethnic diversity, according to a report from Penn State University. The report ranks the D.C. area fourth in the country for being most ethnically diverse. The top areas were all in California.

Penn State researches said Washington's diversity could be linked to employment opportunities in government, the military and higher education. The report also looked at smaller communities and singled out three in our area as being among the top 25 most diverse in America, the other 22 were again in California.

Lorton, in Fairfax County, which used to house a federal prison, now contains expensive homes and apartments. Lorton's population of nearly 20,000 residents underscores the growing diversity of America. About a third are African American, a third white, and the other third includes Asians, Hispanics and other races. The non-whites are younger, and may have been born outside the United States, or be first generation Americans.

The other two communities that made the top 25 are Glenmont and Germantown, both in Montgomery County, Md.

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