It’s hard to deny it: Miami is a microcosm of the Latinization of the United States.

But Latins aren’t all the same, and we don’t necessarily settle together in the same pockets of the metro area.

Looking at los latinos en Miami-Dade in maps, we find some interesting spatial distributions of Latin nationalities.

Indeed, more often than not, we see a certain degree of clustering among particular groups.

In some cases, we see full-fledged ethno-national enclaves.

Let’s go through the list alphabetically. These maps used 2010 decennial data from the US Census Bureau.

Argentines

For the most part, Argentines prefer the islands, especially those in the northeast, although a lot of South Americans flock to downtown and the western edge of the metro too. Doral is always popular with South Americans.

Bolivians

The Bolivians . . . well, the Bolivians are pretty thinly scattered throughout the county. We’ve yet to see a major influx of Bolivians thus far. For the most part, they seem to prefer the southern side of things, with notable pockets in Miami proper and Doral, of course.

Chileans

When they’re not living on Miami Beach or the other islands, South American groups, like the Chileans, seem to prefer the municipalities and unincorporated reaches in the western part of Miami-Dade County.

Colombians

Colombians have a sizeable presence in Miami-Dade County, but they’re most concentrated around the edges and corners of the county, in places like downtown Miami, southwest Kendall (unincorporated Miami-Dade), Doral, the Miami Lakes area, and Aventura.

Costa Ricans

Los ticos don’t have the strongest population presence in Miami-Dade County, but there seems to a faint, but discernible, suburban affinity among the comparatively low numbers we can find.

Cubans

Cubans . . . well . . . the map speaks for itself.

Dominicans

The map for Dominicans is quite interesting. We find most Dominicans in the northwest portions of the City of Miami. There’s a pretty dense area of Dominicans up in Miami Lakes as well, not to mention where the municipalities of Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens , and Medley meet.

Ecuadorians

Ecuadorians, like our other South American friends, are found either in the western suburbs — including, of course, those of Miami Lakes, Doral and west Kendall — or in downtown, with a few small, yet nevertheless notable pockets along the island coasts.

Guatemalans

Things get interesting with los chapines. Guatemalans are located primarily down south in the Homestead / Florida City area, or in downtown Miami (on the west side of the river, in East Little Havana), or downtown Miami Beach.

Hondurans

Hondurans, like their Central American counterparts, are most significantly centered in Little Havana, but they have good-sized pockets all over the place.

Mexicans

The case of Mexicans in Miami is a striking one. They’re for the most part concentrated in Homestead and Florida City, near the industrial farms in the Redland Agricultural Area (the “Redland”). Pockets of Mexicans are found in Doral, downtown, Aventura, Miami-Beach, but they’re overwhelmingly concentrated in the deep southwest.

Nicaraguans

Nicaraguans have really begun to plant their roots in greater Miami. Just look at their numbers along Okeechobee highway, from Hialeah to virtually every corner of Little Havana. Don’t forget the pockets along SW 8th street, as one gets into unincorporated areas like Westchester — Nicaraguans area leaving their mark.

Panamanians

Panamanians seem to be pretty happy staying in Panama.

Paraguayans

But Paraguayans appear, by far, the least eager to come live among us.

Peruvians

Our Peruvian friends, however, aren’t holding back at all. They’re making their presence felt in areas all over the county. You’ll find the largest pocket in the far southwest, though.

Puerto Ricans

Puerto Ricans are pretty much all over the place, just not as much as Cubans.

Salvadorans

Salvadorans like Little Havana.

Uruguayans

Uruguayans are scattered quite sparsely throughout the county too, although there’s a good-sized community of them in north Miami Beach.

Venezuelans

Venezuelans have found their home in Doral, downtown Miami, and Aventura, with a relatively strong distribution in the southwest, as well as on Key Biscayne.

DATA SOURCE:

U.S. Census Bureau. (2010). Census Summary File 1. Table QT-P10, “Hispanic or Latino Origin”. American FactFinder.

The data on the Hispanic or Latino population were derived from answers to a question that was asked of all people. The terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and “Spanish” are used interchangeably. Some respondents identify with all three terms, while others may identify with only one of these three specific terms. People who identify with the terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” or “Spanish” are those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish categories listed on the questionnaire (“Mexican,” “Puerto Rican,” or “Cuban”) as well as those who indicate that they are “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.” People who do not identify with one of the specific origins listed on the questionnaire but indicate that they are “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin” are those whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South America, or the Dominican Republic. Up to two write-in responses to the “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin” category are coded. Origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the  person’s parents or ancestors before their arrival in the United States. People who identify their origin as  Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be any race.

Full documentation on variables used — “Hispanic or Latino Origin” — can be found in the US Census Bureau’s 2010 SF-1 Technical Documentation, on pages 637-638.