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Demographic Analysis of Collegeville, Birmingham: A Predominantly African American Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Collegeville, a neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama, exhibits low diversity with a clear racial majority. As of 2022, African Americans constitute 95% of the population, establishing it as a Black Majority area. The neighborhood has experienced population decline, decreasing from 3,037 residents in 2010 to 2,016 in 2022. The median income in 2022 was $18,966, which is below the national average.
From 2013 to 2022, Collegeville maintained its status as a Low Diversity neighborhood with a strong Black Majority. The percentage of African American residents remained stable between 95% and 98%. Other racial categories showed minimal changes, with the white population varying between 1% and 3%. In 2022, a small Hispanic population (2%) emerged, potentially indicating the beginning of a slow diversification trend.
The median income in Collegeville showed an overall upward trend with fluctuations. It increased from $13,691 in 2013 to $19,515 in 2020, then declined to $14,218 in 2021 before rising to $18,966 in 2022. Despite this increase, the neighborhood's population steadily declined from 2,594 in 2013 to 2,016 in 2022, suggesting that economic improvements were insufficient to retain or attract residents.
Collegeville's demographic stability contrasts with national trends towards increasing diversity in urban areas. While many U.S. cities have experienced growing minority populations and increased racial mixing, Collegeville has remained predominantly African American. This may indicate patterns of racial segregation in Birmingham or limited economic opportunities that discourage demographic change.
The median income in Collegeville remains significantly below both the Alabama state median income ($54,943 as of 2021) and the national median ($69,717 as of 2021). This economic disparity, combined with the neighborhood's racial homogeneity, suggests that Collegeville may be experiencing the effects of long-standing systemic inequalities and limited access to resources for upward mobility.
The persistent low diversity and economic challenges in Collegeville, despite some income improvements, highlight the complex relationship between race, economics, and community development in urban America. This underscores the need for targeted interventions that address both economic opportunities and community integration to foster sustainable growth and improved quality of life for residents.
