"I found Somerville to be everything thatCambridge used to be; it's more ethnicallydiverse," says Steve Buckley, a Herald columnistwho moved to Somerville from Cambridge three yearsago.

Between the 1990 census and the rental housingsurvey, Cambridge's white, non-Hispanic populationgrew from 71.6 to 76 percent.

In the meantime, Somerville has become morediverse.

Between the 1980 and 1990 censuses,Somerville's non-white population has nearlytripled, according to Bretta, as immigrant groupsfrom Southeast Asia and Central America began tojoin the older Irish and Italian populations.

Bretta says Somerville "has always been a verymixed community," known for its "ethnic variety."

Jehlen agrees, "It's been a first stop forimmigrant groups through this century. We have agood mix of populations, a mix of incomes, a mixof ethnic groups."

Older immigrant groups, most notably the Irishand the Italians, have a strong foothold in citypolitics. Hamilton remembers what used to betermed "Gaelic-Garlic" friction in the city'spolitical arena.

Now, however, newer immigrant groups areemerging and influencing politics. Hamilton saysSomerville's Haitian, Brazilian and El Salvadorianaction groups are some of the city's most vocalpolitical organizations.

But now, another group of immigrants is makingits mark on the Somerville community.

"The new wave of immigrants are Cambridgepeople," Capuano says, laughing.

A Second Harvard Square?

Residents, recent transplants and Cantabrigiansalike compare Somerville now to Cambridge 25 yearsago in terms of politics, demographics andcommerce.

To start with, the influx of new residents fromCambridge is beginning to push up rents inSomerville, putting the city on the path togentrification.

Davis Square is particularly reminiscent of'70s-era Cambridge.

Hamilton's description of Harvard Square in1970 matches Davis today. It offered mom-and-popdrugstores instead of CVS and local restaurantsinstead of Bertucci's.