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Demographic Analysis of Civic Park: A Predominantly Black Neighborhood in Flint, Michigan
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Civic Park neighborhood in Flint, Michigan, is classified as a "Low Diversity" community with a "Racial Majority" of Black residents, who constitute 92% of the population as of 2022. This neighborhood has undergone significant demographic and economic changes over the past decade, reflecting broader challenges faced by Flint. Civic Park was significantly impacted by the Flint water crisis, which began in 2014 and affected the community's health, economy, and population dynamics.
From 2013 to 2022, Civic Park maintained a "Racial Majority" status, with the Black population as the dominant group. The Black majority increased from 87% in 2013 to 92% in 2022, reinforcing the "Low Diversity" classification. The White population decreased from 9% in 2013 to 6% in 2022. Between 2018 and 2020, the neighborhood showed signs of becoming slightly more diverse, with increases in Hispanic and multiracial populations, but this trend reversed in recent years.
The economic trajectory of Civic Park shows a downward trend that correlates with its demographic shifts. Median income decreased from $35,587 in 2013 to $33,596 in 2022, a decline of about 5.6%. The lowest point was in 2018, with a median income of $28,356, coinciding with the period of slight increase in diversity. There has been a modest recovery in income since 2018, but it has not reached pre-2015 levels.
The population of Civic Park has decreased from 4,255 in 2013 to 2,553 in 2022, a reduction of about 40%. This significant population loss could be attributed to various factors, including the water crisis and economic challenges.
The trends observed in Civic Park reflect broader issues faced by Flint and other post-industrial Midwest cities. The increasing racial homogeneity is contrary to national trends of increasing diversity in many urban areas. The economic struggles, as evidenced by declining median income and population loss, are characteristic of many neighborhoods in cities that have faced deindustrialization and environmental crises. The Flint water crisis likely exacerbated these trends, causing residents to leave the area and potentially deterring new residents from moving in. The modest income recovery since 2018 might indicate some resilience or the beginnings of revitalization efforts, but the continued population decline suggests ongoing challenges.
Civic Park exemplifies a neighborhood grappling with the compounded effects of economic decline, environmental crisis, and demographic shift. While it has maintained its status as a predominantly Black community, the increasing homogeneity coupled with population loss and economic struggles indicate a neighborhood in need of targeted revitalization efforts and investments to reverse these trends.
