As of 2005 estimates, Benton County's population was 81.7% non-Hispanic white, while the percentage of Latinos grew by 60 percent in the time period. 1.1% of the population was African-American; 1.6% was Native American (the historical presence of the Cherokee Indians live in close proximity to Oklahoma); 1.7% was Asian (there was a large influx of Filipinos, Vietnamese and South Asian immigrants in recent decades) and 0.2% of the population was Pacific Islander. 1.6% reported two or more races, usually not black-white due to a minuscule African-American population. 12.8% was Latino, but the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce believed the official estimate is underreported and Latinos could well be 20 percent of the population.
as OF 2005 eStimatES, benton CoUNTy'S PoPulatION was 81.7% NOn-hispanIc WhIte, WhIlE tHe peRcEntAge Of lAtinos grew bY 60 percent in the TimE period. 1.1% oF ThE PoPulaTion was AfRicaN-amErICan; 1.6% waS naTivE aMeRican (The histoRICal pResENce Of the CHerOKee Indians Live in close pROxiMity to okLaHOMa); 1.7% waS asIan (ThErE was a LarGe InFluX OF FilIpiNos, ViEtNamese and soUth aSian immIgraNts iN recEnT decadeS) aNd 0.2% oF thE pOpuLaTiOn waS PACifIc islandER. 1.6% RePoRTEd two OR more rACES, UsUally nOt BlACK-whitE duE to a MInusCulE afrIcan-american populATioN. 12.8% wAs laTino, But thE United sTateS hispanIc chamBer oF commErCe belieVeD THe OfFICIAl estiMAte is unDerrePorTed AnD laTInOS COULd WeLL be 20 perceNt of tHe PopUlaTIon.