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Demographic Analysis of Great Falls, Montana: A Study of Racial Composition and Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Great Falls, Montana exhibits demographic stability with gradual shifts towards increased diversity. As of 2022, the city is categorized as having "Low Diversity" with a "White Majority," comprising 83% of the total population. This represents a decrease from 87% in 2013, indicating a slow but steady trend towards greater diversity.
Over the past decade, Great Falls has maintained its status as a "White Majority" city, but has shown signs of transitioning towards a more diverse community. The percentage of white residents has decreased from 87% in 2013 to 83% in 2022. This shift suggests the city may be in the early stages of becoming a "Transitional Community."
The most notable changes include an increase in the Hispanic population from 3% to 5%, growth in the "Two or More Races" category from 3% to 6%, and a slight increase in the Asian population from 0% to 1%. These changes represent significant relative increases in these minority populations.
The median income in Great Falls has shown overall growth, rising from $52,468 in 2013 to $57,107 in 2022, an increase of about 8.8%. This growth has not been steady, with fluctuations observed. There was a significant increase in median income in 2020 and 2021, reaching a peak of $61,036 in 2021 before declining in 2022.
The population has grown moderately, from 64,177 in 2013 to 67,091 in 2022, an increase of about 4.5%. This suggests that the city is experiencing slow but steady growth, both in terms of population and economic prosperity.
Great Falls' 83% white population in 2022 is significantly higher than the national average of about 60%. The trends observed in Great Falls mirror broader national trends of increasing diversity, particularly in terms of growth in Hispanic and multiracial populations.
The economic growth in Great Falls appears to be slower than national averages. The U.S. median household income grew by about 18% between 2013 and 2022, compared to Great Falls' 8.8% growth over the same period.
Based on the observed trends, Great Falls will likely continue its slow transition towards greater diversity over the coming years. It may remain in the "Low Diversity" category for the near future, but could potentially transition to "Moderate Diversity" within the next decade if current trends continue or accelerate.
Economically, the city may continue to see modest growth in median income, but it may struggle to keep pace with national averages unless there are significant changes in local economic conditions or opportunities.
Great Falls appears to be in the early stages of a demographic transition, slowly moving from a highly homogeneous community to one with increasing diversity. This shift, coupled with moderate economic growth, suggests that the city is evolving, albeit at a pace slower than national averages. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether these trends accelerate, potentially reshaping the social and economic landscape of Great Falls.
