Sonoma County: One of Three in Bay Area With Over 50 Percent Population White

A study published Aug. 31 by the Washington D.C.-based think tank, the Brookings Institute, has found that as of the 2010 census, the population of minorities surpassed whites in 18 of California's 26 major metropolitan areas — up from 14 metro areas surveyed in the 2000 census, according to California Watch. 

"Non-whites and Hispanics accounted for 98 percent of population growth in large metro areas from 2000 to 2010," according to the study. In addition, "forty-two of the 100 largest metro areas lost white population, and 22 now have 'majority minority' populations. Smaller metro areas and areas outside of metropolitan regions, by contrast, remain overwhelmingly white."

While cities such as Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose have seen an uptick in minority populations, Sonoma County is one of three in the Bay Area where whites still outnumber minorities. The others are Solano and Napa counties.

According to census maps from the New York Times, the majority of Rohnert Park and Cotati's population is between 72 and 75 percent white. Moving towards Santa Rosa, however, the the racial makeup is more mixed, with a population between 35 and 50 percent Hispanic, less than 10 percent Asian, less than five percent African American and about one percent Native American. Multiracial and other groups make up about four percent of the population locally.

Interested in Rohnert Park's racial and ethnic breakdown? Check out the interactive Times maps, or the cool maps at California Watch. There you can find out how your neighborhood has changed.