JARRETT CARROLL/Recorder News Staff

AMSTERDAM — Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera says he wants to see more elected Hispanics now that the 2010 Census shows significant increases in the population's growth, including here in Amsterdam.

In an announcement Friday, a day after New York census numbers were released, the Bronx Democrat and former chair of the state assembly's Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, touted the fact that 60 of 62 counties in New York experienced significant Hispanic growth.

"I am proud of the growth shown by New York's Hispanic community," Rivera said in the statement. "The Hispanic population's growth is accounting for dynamic changes in our society. Soon this growth will have socio-economic impact in all of the cities in New York State."

The state Assembly's president pro tempore said those identifying themselves as Hispanic have grown from 2.8 million individuals to 3.4 million people in the last 10 years.

The group accounts for 17.6 percent of the state's total population.

"Over the next several years, we should see major electoral changes throughout New York state," the assembly's ranking Latino concluded.

In Amsterdam, the new census shows more than a quarter of the city's 18,620 residents are Hispanic, but,there are no Hispanic representatives on the city's Common Council, however. Rivera's spokesman, Anton Konev, said it is a trend that must change throughout the state.

"This is one of the points that Assemblyman Rivera is making," Konev said. "There is going to be severe changes. In the next few years, there must be emerging representatives in that growing Hispanic community."

And, he contends, the trend is on its way up.

"The new census doesn't only show us what the current populations are, it also shows a trajectory of where it is going. We expect the Hispanic population to continue growing in Amsterdam and other cities like Gloversville and Johnstown."  

He pointed to the growth in the entire region, including Albany, where Konev is a member of the Common Council. That city's Hispanic population has grown to nearly 9 percent, he said.

The census shows that Amsterdam's total population has grown for the first time since the 1930 census. According to a breakdown of the numbers, the growth in city population is a result of the African-American and Hispanic populations nearly doubling.  The number of Amsterdam residents identified as white decreased by 12.5 percent, while those identified as Hispanic grew by 10.2 percent.

In addition, those identified as African-American went from 399 individuals in 2000 to 712 individuals in 2010.

Overall, Amsterdam grew by 265 residents in the past decade, with the breakdown being 68.1 percent white, 26.2 percent Hispanic, 3.8 percent African-American, and 0.08 percent Asian-American.  

Amsterdam Mayor Ann Thane could not be reached Saturday to discuss Rivera's specific comments, but said Thursday that the increase in the city's Hispanic population was a significant factor in the city's overall growth.

"I think that its small growth but it's significant," Thane said of the total increase. "We are holding steady, and I think it's wonderful news that we are 26 percent Hispanic and I think we need to celebrate our diversity."

Contact JARRETT CARROLL at jarrett.carroll@recordernews.com