CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Minority groups account for about 16 percent of Wyoming population, making Wyoming the ninth least diverse state in the nation.

However, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates show Hispanics and other minority populations are growing faster than the state's overall rate.

Between July 2010 and July 2014, Wyoming's minority population grew by 17.3 percent, compared with the 3.6 percent increase of the state's total population.

Hispanics were the largest minority group in July 2014, accounting for some 57,000 residents. The increase of Hispanics between 2010 and 2014 was 13.6 percent.

The black population nearly doubled during the period to 8,098.

Asians, Pacific Islanders and people with two or more races had at least 17 percent or higher growth.

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