Hispanic babies 2003

More babies were born to hispanics than to whites in Arizona in 2003:

More than 39,000 babies were born to Hispanic women in Arizona in 2003, compared with about 38,800 babies born to Anglo women during the same year, according to state statistics.

The numbers reflect the state's rapidly growing Hispanic population and could also explain how José became the most popular boy's name in the state in 2004.

"What it really means to Arizona is that eventually Arizona will have come full circle," said Loui Olivas, a professor at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. "Every demographer I've talked to thinks the majority of Arizona's population will be Hispanic by 2035 or 2045."