Loading Content...
Demographic Analysis of East Lawrence: A White Majority Neighborhood with Evolving Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
East Lawrence, a neighborhood in Lawrence, Kansas, exhibits a demographic profile characterized as a "White Majority" community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the white population constitutes 80% of the neighborhood, with a median income of $37,301. East Lawrence is known for its historic charm, featuring many well-preserved late 19th and early 20th century homes.
Over the past decade, East Lawrence has maintained its status as a "White Majority" community, but with notable fluctuations in diversity. From 2013 to 2019, the neighborhood showed signs of transitioning towards a "Moderate Diversity" category. The white population decreased from 88% to 74%, while Hispanic and Black populations increased. However, from 2020 to 2022, there was a slight reversal of this trend, with the white population increasing back to 80%, categorizing the area once again as "Low Diversity". The neighborhood has seen an increase in the Native American population, rising from 0% in 2013 to 4% in 2022, contributing to a more diverse racial makeup.
The median income in East Lawrence has fluctuated significantly over the years. There was a notable increase from $34,689 in 2013 to a peak of $46,751 in 2019, coinciding with the period of increasing diversity. However, 2020 saw a sharp decline to $36,930. The income has since rebounded slightly to $37,301 in 2022, but remains below the 2019 peak. The population has grown from 1,856 in 2013 to 2,509 in 2022, indicating a growing attractiveness of the neighborhood despite income fluctuations.
The trend towards increasing diversity from 2013 to 2019 aligns with national trends of growing diversity in many urban and suburban areas. The sharp income decline in 2020 likely reflects the widespread economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected communities across the United States. The resilience of the white majority in East Lawrence, even as diversity increased, suggests that the neighborhood may be experiencing a form of "gentrification lite" - attracting new residents while maintaining its core demographic character. The growth in the Native American population is noteworthy and may reflect broader trends of urban migration among Native American communities or changes in self-identification practices.
East Lawrence presents a complex picture of demographic and economic change. While it has maintained its status as a White Majority community, it has also experienced periods of increasing diversity and significant income fluctuations. These trends reflect both local dynamics and broader national patterns, highlighting the neighborhood's evolving character within the context of Lawrence and Kansas as a whole.
