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Demographic Analysis of Fifeville: A Black Plurality Neighborhood in Transition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Fifeville, a neighborhood in Charlottesville, Virginia, currently presents a demographic profile categorized as a "Black Plurality" community. As of 2022, the Black population constitutes 47% of the neighborhood, the largest single racial group. The area exhibits "Moderate Diversity" with significant representation from both Black and White populations (40%). Economically, Fifeville has experienced fluctuations in median income over the past decade, with the most recent data showing a median income of $48,502 in 2022. Fifeville is one of Charlottesville's oldest African American communities.
Over the past decade, Fifeville has maintained its status as a "Black Plurality" community, but with notable fluctuations. In 2013, the neighborhood was nearly classified as a "Black Majority" with 48% of the population identifying as Black. This percentage increased to 57% by 2015, briefly shifting the classification to "Black Majority." From 2016 onwards, the community returned to a "Black Plurality" status, with the Black population percentage between 51-54% until 2021, before decreasing to 47% in 2022.
The White population has remained the second-largest group, fluctuating between 33-40% over the decade. There has been a gradual increase in the Asian population (from 2% to 4%) and those identifying as two or more races (from 0% to 6%) between 2017 and 2022, indicating a trend towards increased diversity. These shifts suggest that Fifeville is showing signs of becoming a "Transitional Community," with increasing representation from diverse racial groups.
The median income in Fifeville has shown volatility over the reported period. Starting at $48,880 in 2013, it declined to a low of $40,944 in 2017, coinciding with the period of highest Black population percentage. The income then began to rise, reaching a peak of $59,380 in 2021, before dropping again to $48,502 in 2022. The periods of lower median income (2014-2017) correspond with higher percentages of Black residents, while the recent increase in income (2019-2021) aligns with a slight decrease in the Black population percentage and increases in Asian and multi-racial populations.
The demographic shifts observed in Fifeville reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. Many U.S. cities have experienced growing Asian and multi-racial populations, similar to Fifeville. However, the persistent Black plurality in Fifeville is somewhat unique, given the neighborhood's historical context as an African American community.
The economic fluctuations in Fifeville, particularly the sharp increase in median income from 2020 to 2021 (from $49,991 to $59,380), outpace national trends. The U.S. median household income increased by about 3% from 2020 to 2021, while Fifeville saw an increase of nearly 19% in the same period. This suggests that local factors may be influencing Fifeville's economic trajectory more strongly than national trends.
Fifeville presents a picture of a historically African American neighborhood experiencing gradual diversification while maintaining a Black plurality. The economic fluctuations, coupled with increasing racial diversity, suggest that Fifeville is in a period of transition that may reshape its socio-economic landscape in the coming years.
