CRANBERRY TWP — Butler County became more racially diverse in the past decade, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, with the number of residents identifying as a race other than white alone more than doubling between 2010 and 2020.

More than 14,600 county residents — roughly 7.6% of the population — reported their race on the decennial census as something other than “white alone:” That is, as a race other than white or as two or more races. That is an increase of more than 8,300, or a 134% increase, from the 2010 census.

“It's consistent with what you're seeing nationally,” Dan Santoro, Cranberry Township manager, said. “There's a change nationally in population diversity, so we're seeing that. It's not surprising.”In fact, during the decade between censuses, the white-alone population in the United States fell by 2.6%, while the fastest-growing racial groups were those identifying as multiracial, Asian Americans, Black Americans, those identifying as “some other race,” Pacific Islanders and American Indians and Alaskan Natives.Butler County didn't experience the loss in white-alone population seen across the nation. That segment of the population grew, albeit more slowly than the population as a whole at 0.9%, but its population shifts among racial minorities followed roughly the same trends as the nation as a whole.The number of county residents identifying as multiracial — that is, residents who reported they are of two or more races on the census — skyrocketed from 1,692 to 7,888, a 366% increase, between 2010 and 2020.The second-largest racial demographic shift diverges slightly from nationwide trends, with those identifying as “some other race” alone, which the Census Bureau said is primarily Latino residents, more than tripling, from 462 in 2010 to 1,403 in 2020. Following “some other race,” Asian Americans represent a 53% larger share of the population now than in 2010, with a 976-person increase.Butler's American Indian population grew 20%, although it should be noted it represents the second-smallest single-race demographic in the county, and the county's Black population increased by about 11%.The only racial demographic with a smaller population in 2020 than 10 years prior is Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, with nine fewer residents identifying as that race alone.In areas such as Cranberry — where the county's racial diversity shift was concentrated, with a 163% increase in residents identifying as a race other than white alone — it's clear this shift has occurred and will continue to happen, according to the Cranberry Area Diversity Network, or CADN.“There's been change. The diversity has changed in the last 10 years,” the organization said. “There's been moderate growth and an increase in diversity. We're aware that it is only going to increase, and we want to embrace that.”

CADN, which primarily hosts events to foster a dialogue about the unique experiences felt by racial minority groups, said it hasn't experienced pushback.“All the events that we have done so far have been well-received, or had a high number of registrants,” the group said.In addition to its cultural diversity programs, CADN believes another goal is to connect and support different groups of people.The group noted it wants to reach out and connect with people in the community and provide that sense of belonging. The group is trying to connect all these different populations as a main goal.Among local government, the thought process seems to be similar, with an ambition to mold welcoming environments for all people.“It is a goal to be a diverse, welcoming community because that diversity helps make a strong, healthy, vibrant future,” Santoro said.