Following up on our post about the rise of mixed race couples in the deep south, here are 2010 Census results from three southern states: Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. We'll explore Florida later this week. Florida, now in the top five in population in the U.S. is a different kind of southern state, which we will explain.

In short, the trend toward major growth in those who identify as mixed-race is also reflected in these three states. So faar the Census Bureau analyzed data from 42 states and found that the mixed-race population doubled in North Carolina, which we reported on earlier. In Georgia, it expanded by more than 80 percent, and by nearly as much in Kentucky and Tennessee. Mississippi's mixed-race population, as we reported yesterday, is up 70 percent.

Census officials were expecting a national multiracial growth rate of about 35 percent since 2000, when 7 million people -- 2.4 percent of the population -- chose more than one race. Officials have not yet announced a national growth rate, but it seems sure to be closer to 50 percent.

Ironically, in states like California, Hawaii and Oklahoma, where people of mixed race already made up a significant percentage of the total, the increases were smaller than in places in the deep south (yes, there are people who consider Oklahoma "south," but we will call it midwest for a variety of reasons) where there were far fewer "mixed-race" people before the 2010 Census.

Some highlights:

Georgia

• 30.5% of Georgia state residents are of African American origin, with a growth rate of 25.6% over the past decade. There are 24 major African American targeted newspapers estimated to reach over 1.7 million Black readers between the ages of 18 - 65+.     
• 3.2% of Georgia state residents are of Asian origin, with a growth rate of 81.6% over the past decade. There are 16 major Asian newspaper in Georgia estimated to reach over 196,000 Asian readers between the ages of 18 - 65+.      
• 96.1% of the Hispanic growth in Georgia over the past decade has increased the Hispanic population to 8.8% of the total population in the state.  There are 18 major Spanish language newspapers in Georgia estimated to reach over 477,000 Hispanic readers between the ages of 18 - 65+.

Tennessee

• African Americans account for 16.7% of the population has recorded a 13.3% growth rate in the past decade. There are 14 African American targeted newspapers in Tennessee estimated to reach 556,000 African American readers between the ages of 18 - 65+.
• Hispanics make up 4.6% of the population has seen a dramatic growth rate, 134.2%, since the last Census count. There are 7 major Spanish language newspapers in Tennessee.  According to EPMG's research, there are 156,916 Latino newspaper readers between the age range of 18 - 50+. 

Kentucky

It can be said that most Americans, especially black Americans, are already of mixed race. Blacks, whites and Natives have been "mixing" in the South for a few hundred years. What's different now, or at least what's changing, is that people are able to self-identify as mixed race and can openly choose and marry partners of "different" races.

Coming up this week: Florida, a tale of two states.