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Demographic Analysis of Ingersoll Park: A Study of Low Diversity and White Majority
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Ingersoll Park, a neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa, exhibits a low diversity demographic profile with a white majority of 98% in 2022. The neighborhood's median income was $71,220 in 2022, following fluctuations over the past decade. Ingersoll Park is characterized by early 20th-century homes and tree-lined streets, contributing to its distinct character within Des Moines.
Over the past decade, Ingersoll Park has maintained its status as a low diversity neighborhood with a strong white majority. From 2013 to 2019, there was a minor trend towards increased diversity, with the white population decreasing from 98% to 90% at its lowest point in 2018. During this period, there was a small increase in residents identifying as two or more races, peaking at 6% in 2018. Since 2020, this trend reversed, with the white population increasing back to 98% by 2022, reinforcing its low diversity status.
The median income in Ingersoll Park has shown significant volatility over the decade. From 2013 to 2015, there was a steady increase, peaking at $109,271 in 2015. A sharp decline followed from 2016 to 2019, with the median income dropping to $69,347 in 2019. Since 2020, there has been a recovery, with median income rising to $91,301 in 2021 before declining again to $71,220 in 2022.
Correlating economic trends with demographic shifts reveals that the period of highest diversity (2015-2018) coincided with the beginning of the income decline. The recent return to extremely low diversity has occurred alongside a stabilization of median income, albeit at a lower level than the peak in 2015. Population trends show a general decline from 1,160 in 2010 to 721 in 2022.
Ingersoll Park's demographic profile contrasts with national trends towards increasing diversity in urban areas. The neighborhood's median income, even at its lowest point, remains above the national median. The population decline in Ingersoll Park may reflect broader trends of suburbanization or changing preferences for urban living, common in many U.S. cities.
Ingersoll Park presents a case of a neighborhood that has resisted broader national trends towards increased diversity. Its economic fluctuations, coupled with a consistent low diversity profile, suggest a complex interplay between demographic stability and economic volatility. The recent trend towards even lower diversity and stabilizing incomes may indicate a reinforcement of the neighborhood's traditional character, potentially influenced by its historic appeal and established community dynamics.
