City grayer, more Hispanic: Blacks, whites make up smaller slice of population

Chicago is getting smarter, older and more Hispanic.

According to data being released today by the U.S. Census Bureau,the number of Hispanics living in Chicago climbed to 28.8 percent ofthe population, up nearly three percentage points from the beginningof the decade. The black population declined by 1.8 percentagepoints, to 34.9 percent of Chicago's population. The white populationdeclined by 1 percent, to 30.3 percent.

The census also spotted a few more gray hairs, with the median agein the city growing by 1.6 years to 33.1, meaning that half thepopulation is older than 33.1.

Education levels also are increasing in Chicago, as they areacross the nation, …