North Texas’s Asian population is growing faster than any other demographic, according to US census data.
In Tarrant County alone, the 2020 census counted 129,437 Asians – a 53% increase from 10 years earlier.
At 1.5 million people, Asians now make up six percent of the Texan population, the data shows.
In Haltom City, An Truong – an immigrant from Vietnam – was elected mayor twice.
Truong believes Asians are underrated because of a culture that values privacy.
“Every time you do a US census, Asians don’t think they need to tell you my identity, you know, my person,” Truong said.
Truong recently founded the Vietnamese-American Association of North Texas to unite the growing population.
Tom Ha also immigrated from Vietnam – at the age of 24 – and now runs an insurance business in Haltom City.
“When I came, I came with nothing,” he said. “A pair of shoes and the clothes on my back and that’s it, but America is a country with great opportunities.”
He has also noticed the recent surge in the Asian population.
“That’s a steep climb,” said Ha. “Because I’m in business, I’ve seen and experienced that.”
The reason?
Both men say that many Asians who moved to California because of the weather are now moving to Texas because of the economy and family-friendly values.
“Asian culture is very family-oriented,” said Ha. “And we rely on our own and build our own systems.”
Asian growth – the fastest of any demographic group – is transforming Texan culture.
“So you will see a huge impact on the Asian community in terms of the political, educational and also economic aspects of the community,” said Ha.
And politics too.
Truong, who became a Fort Worth police officer after arriving in Texas and later worked undercover for years, said many people were surprised to learn he was mayor.
But he said he could only have been elected with the support of non-Asians.
“Only the Vietnamese population is not enough to get me into office,” he said. “I think the majority of the Caucasions love me and want me as mayor.”
Ha said the senior Asian immigrant guard like himself and the mayor greet the newcomers.
“I’m very happy to see that and I’m happy that we can give something back to this nation because America was so good for the refugees and without America we might be dead,” said Ha.
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