MIAMI -- (AP) -- Fueled by migration from Latin America and other parts of the United States during the 1990s, Hispanics passed blacks to become Florida's largest
 minority group.

 The state's Hispanic population grew more than twice as fast as blacks in the last decade, census figures released today show.

 Hispanics increased by 70.4 percent from 1.6 million to 2.7 million while blacks grew by 27.4 percent from 1.8 million to 2.3 million.

 Florida's overall population increased by 23.5 percent from 12.9 million to 15.9 million during the 1990s, making it the nation's seventh-fastest growing state.

 Florida remains the fourth-largest state behind California, Texas and New York.

 With 3 million new residents, the Florida gains two additional House seats, bringing its congressional delegation to 25.

 Hispanics make up 16.8 percent of the state's population while blacks account for 14.6 percent. Whites make up 78 percent of the population.

 Cubans living in Miami-Dade County traditionally made up the majority of Florida's large Hispanic population. But in the last decade the group became more varied and
 spread into the suburbs, said University of Florida demographer June Nogle.

 ``It becomes a much more diverse group in terms of national origin than when it was predominantly Cuban,'' Nogle said. ``That's the real difference.''

 In addition to Cuba, Hispanics moved from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala and Puerto Rico, she said. The number of Mexicans also increased but
 the population remains smaller than in California and Texas.

 Sandra Cortes, 29, moved to Miami from Colombia last year. She said most of her friends here are from the South American country.

 ``I don't seek them out,'' she said, ``but we gravitate to each other because we share similar cultures.''

 Lucy Quinones, a Colombian who moved to Fort Myers in southwest Florida five years ago, said she notices the Hispanic explosion when she shops. Her neighborhood
 grocery store used to stock just one brand of espresso coffee popular among Hispanics. Now it stocks five.

 It used to be rare to hear Spanish spoken in the aisles, said Quinones, 33.

 ``Now it's constant,'' she said.
 
 

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