By FERNANDA FIGUEROA, Associated Press

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 through October 15, offers the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic cultures in the United States. Hispanic people in the U.S. are becoming one of the nation’s fastest growing racial and ethnic groups.

But this growing community is far from being a monolith. From shifting identities, increasing educational attainment and growing political influence, Hispanic Americans continue to be a major part of the nation’s tapestry.

Here’s a look at the Hispanic population in the U.S., by the numbers:

That’s how many people in the U.S. identify as ethnically Hispanic, according to the latest census estimates.

Hispanic was a term coined by the federal government for people desce

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