NPR: One place the Hispanic population is growing is in the overwhelmingly white state of Iowa. The latest census figures show the Hispanic population, while only 5 percent of the state, has almost doubled since 2000. And one small town — West Liberty — is the first in Iowa to have a majority Hispanic population. Downtown West Liberty, Iowa, is quintessentially Midwestern American, both quaint and historic, with brick buildings lining brick streets. A typical stroll involves walking past the bank, a renovated theater, a hair salon, restaurants and stores. West Liberty Mayor Chad Thomas says that unlike a lot of other small Midwestern towns that are dying, West Liberty is alive. “I see a lot of businesses that are open, and not vacant storefronts,” Thomas says. “Probably half of the businesses are Hispanic-owned.” Next to Paul Revere’s Pizza on 3rd Street is Tienda La Luna, and next to the American Legion Hall is the popular Acapulco Mexican Bakery. Now at 3,700 people and counting, the eastern Iowa town is growing and thriving, Thomas says “If you didn’t have the Hispanic population here in town, yeah, we would be much more like a lot of smaller towns, and there would be a lot more storefronts that are empty,” he says. MORE