Solvang is unique among destinations on the central coast of California, because of its Danish heritage. Architecture, bakeries, and restaurants are among Danish allures to some 1.5 million visitors a year from outside Santa Barbara County. Solvang calls itself the Danish capital of the United States.

   More residents of Solvang appeared to be claiming Danish ancestry recently. Nearly all residents were of Danish descent when Solvang began in 1911. The proportion of those claiming Danish ancestry declined with the general growth of the community through the rest of the twentieth century. Recent estimated changes in number of residents looked like this:

  Total estimated population of Solvang in 2005-2009 was 5,132, while in 2009-2013 the estimate was 5,298, for a gain of 3%.

  All population estimates were by the U. S. Census Bureau in the yearly American Community Survey (ACS). The data suggest that statistical error rose with declining size of an ancestry, as most statisticians would expect in sample surveys such as those of ACS.

   Yet the suggested growth was positive. That marked a long term change of direction in number claiming Danish ancestry, as new residents replaced old ones, and some residents rethought their ancestries.

  It could be said that in 2013 Solvang was more English or German in ancestry than Danish. Nonetheless the community at large, including Latino residents, celebrates the Danish origin of Solvang.

  Latino ethnicity combines national ancestries from many countries, including Spain, Portugal, Mexico, countries of Central America, South America, and more. The U. S. Census of 2010 counted 1,530 Latinos in a total population of 5,245 in Solvang.

Please see details online in U. S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data series B04006, and U. S. Census 2010 Summary File 1 data series QT-P3.