In 1988 the United States Congress declared September 15 through October 15 the National Hispanic Heritage Month. This is an extension of the week-long celebration proposed by President Lyndon B. Johnson back in 1968. For a month the U.S. celebrates the culture and traditions of those from Spain, Mexico and Latin America and the Caribbean.

September 15 was chosen because it is the anniversary of independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. On September 16 and 18 Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence parties respectively.

To start the celebration, the U.S. Census Bureau has compiled the most illustrative data about the Hispanic population in the country. Among the issues considered are population; businesses; families and children; income, poverty, and health; and education. Jobs, voting and participation in military are also included.
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Based on a recent analysis of the newly available Census Bureau data, the Pew Hispanic Center reported on August 25, that Hispanic college enrollment has increased by 24 percent narrowing gaps with other groups. According to the data, college enrollment in October 2010 reached 12.2 million in the U.S., Hispanics representing 1.8 million or 15 percent of the overall enrollment. From 2009 to 2010, the number of Hispanics in campus grew by 349,000, compared to an increase of 88,000 young blacks and only 43,000 Asian Americans. For young non-Hispanics whites there was a decrease of 320,000.
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