The state and metro Atlanta’s Asian American population grew significantly, according to

The state and metro Atlanta’s Asian American population grew significantly, according to the census bureau. One Asian American community leader says more Asian Americans settled in the state because of word-of-mouth.

Since 2000, the state’s Asian American population grew by nearly 150,000. And about three quarters of the state’s Asian Americans live in the metro area. Korean American Helen Kim Ho is the executive director of Asian American Legal Advocacy Center. She says the huge growth is because of an already established Asian American community.

“With a lot of immigrant trends, when one Asian American family comes to a particular city or town, and they like it, word-of-mouth spreads. People start to hear about it. People start coming.”

She says part of the draw is the growth of Asian American retail businesses in the area. For example, Asian Americans now make up more than 10 percent of Gwinnett’s population. Countries of origin include Korea, China, India and Vietnam.

Source WABE