Loading Content...
Demographic Analysis of Gainsboro: A Black Majority Neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Gainsboro, a neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia, exhibits a Black Majority demographic profile with 70% of its population identifying as Black in 2022. The neighborhood has experienced fluctuations in population and economic status over the past decade. In 2022, Gainsboro's median income was $22,102. Gainsboro is one of Roanoke's oldest neighborhoods and was historically a center of African American culture and business in the early 20th century.
Throughout the period from 2013 to 2022, Gainsboro maintained its status as a Black Majority community. The Black population remained stable at 77-79% from 2013 to 2016. In 2017 and 2018, the Black majority decreased to 66% and 53% respectively, approaching a Black Plurality status. From 2019 to 2022, the Black majority rebounded, stabilizing around 61-70%. The White population showed inverse trends, increasing from 18% in 2013 to 33% in 2018, then declining to 26% in 2022. The Hispanic population briefly increased from 1% to 9% between 2016 and 2018, before returning to 1% by 2022.
The median income in Gainsboro increased from $20,292 in 2013 to $22,102 in 2022, representing an 8.9% growth over nine years. This growth was not linear. From 2013 to 2017, there was steady income growth, peaking at $25,445 in 2017. A sharp decline to $20,493 occurred in 2018, coinciding with the period of greatest racial diversity. From 2020 to 2022, income stabilized around $22,000-$24,000. The population fluctuated significantly, ranging from 618 in 2017 to 1,441 in 2022. A notable population surge of about 40% occurred from 2021 to 2022.
Gainsboro's 2022 median income of $22,102 is significantly below the national median household income of approximately $70,784 in 2021. This disparity highlights the economic challenges within this historically significant African American community. The maintenance of a Black majority in Gainsboro contrasts with national trends of increasing diversity in many urban areas. However, the brief period of increased diversity around 2017-2018 aligns with broader national patterns of growing multiculturalism in American cities.
The recent population surge in Gainsboro, given its history, may indicate the beginning of a revitalization process. This growth, coupled with the maintenance of its Black majority status, suggests a potential strengthening of the community's historical identity while possibly attracting new residents. Gainsboro presents a complex picture of a historically Black neighborhood maintaining its cultural identity while navigating economic challenges and brief periods of demographic shifts. The recent population growth and stabilizing incomes may indicate a new phase in the neighborhood's evolution, potentially blending its rich history with new opportunities for community development.
