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Demographic Analysis of Bell Gardens, California: A Hispanic Majority City
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Bell Gardens, California, is a small city with an area of 2.46 square miles and a population of 39,263 as of 2022. The city is classified as having "Low Diversity" with a clear Hispanic Majority. In 2022, 96% of the population identified as Hispanic, exceeding the 75% threshold for low diversity classification. This demographic composition has remained consistent over the past decade, indicating a stable ethnic makeup within the community.
Throughout the analyzed period (2013-2022), Bell Gardens has maintained its status as a Hispanic Majority city with Low Diversity. The Hispanic population has remained stable, fluctuating only slightly between 95% and 97% over the decade. This consistency suggests an established Hispanic community with minimal influx of other racial groups. Minor fluctuations have occurred in other racial categories. The White population has remained at around 2-3%, while the Black population has shown a slight increase from 0% to 1% since 2018. Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and multiracial populations have remained at or near 0% throughout the period.
The median income in Bell Gardens has shown an upward trend over the past decade, increasing from $43,055 in 2013 to $49,000 in 2022, representing a 13.8% increase over nine years. However, there was a significant increase to $53,871 in 2021 before decreasing in 2022. The population of Bell Gardens has experienced a decline, particularly in recent years. From a peak of 42,837 in 2015, the population has decreased to 39,263 in 2022, representing a drop of about 8.3%. This population decline coincides with the period of more rapid income growth.
Bell Gardens' demographic makeup differs from the overall demographics of California, which is known for its diversity. The city's median income, despite its growth, likely remains below the California state median, which was estimated to be around $78,672 in 2020.
Based on observed trends, Bell Gardens is likely to maintain its status as a Hispanic Majority city with Low Diversity in the near future. The consistency of the racial makeup over the past decade suggests established community structures resistant to rapid change.
Economically, if the trend of increasing median income continues, further gentrification pressures might occur. This could potentially lead to more out-migration of lower-income residents, continuing the population decline trend. However, given the strong Hispanic majority, any demographic shifts are likely to be gradual.
In terms of categorization, while a dramatic shift seems unlikely, a very slow transition towards "Moderate Diversity" in the long term might occur if current minor increases in Black and White populations continue and accelerate. However, this would likely take many years, if not decades, to manifest given the current demographic stability.
