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Demographic Analysis of Garden Highlands: A Predominantly Black Neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Garden Highlands, a neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a predominantly Black population (99% as of 2022). The neighborhood has a population of 1,245 residents and a median income of $22,043 as of 2022. Garden Highlands has experienced population fluctuations over the past decade, potentially indicating broader socio-economic changes in the area.
Throughout the period from 2013 to 2022, Garden Highlands has maintained a Low Diversity categorization, with the Black population comprising over 90% of residents each year. From 2013 to 2017, the neighborhood was almost exclusively Black, with the percentage increasing from 92% to 99%. From 2018 onwards, a small White population (1-2%) emerged, slightly altering the racial composition but not changing the overall diversity categorization.
The median income in Garden Highlands has shown volatility over the years. It dropped from $19,662 in 2013 to $15,029 in 2016, coinciding with the highest Black population percentage. From 2016 to 2018, there was an increase in median income, reaching $22,624 in 2018. This period aligns with the slight increase in White population and a decrease in overall population. Since 2018, the median income has fluctuated but generally remained higher than the 2013-2017 period, hovering around $20,000-$22,000.
The population of Garden Highlands has seen notable changes. It increased from 879 in 2010 to 1,131 in 2015. There was a decline to 871 in 2019. Since 2019, the population has been growing again, reaching 1,245 in 2022. These economic and population trends suggest a complex interplay of factors affecting the neighborhood. The increase in median income coupled with population decline might indicate gentrification pressures. The recent population growth might suggest renewed interest in the area, possibly due to improved economic conditions or urban renewal efforts.
Garden Highlands' demographic profile of low diversity with a predominantly Black population is not uncommon in certain urban areas of the American South. The median income, while showing improvement, remains below the national median household income. This suggests that Garden Highlands faces ongoing economic challenges. The fluctuations in population and income over the past decade could reflect broader trends in Birmingham or similar mid-sized Southern cities, where urban renewal and economic development intersect with issues of racial equity and gentrification. The resilience of the neighborhood's racial composition in the face of these economic changes may indicate strong community ties or cultural significance of the area to its Black residents.
