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Demographic Analysis of Juniata Neighborhood: Predominantly White Community with Economic Growth
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Juniata neighborhood in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is classified as a Low Diversity community with a White Majority comprising 92% of the population as of 2022. The median income in the area has increased to $54,435 in 2022. Juniata has historical significance as a former railroad town, which has influenced its demographic and economic characteristics.
Throughout the period from 2013 to 2022, Juniata has maintained its status as a Low Diversity community with a strong White Majority. The percentage of white residents has remained above 90% during this time, with minimal fluctuations. There has been no significant transition between diversity categories, indicating a stable racial composition.
The neighborhood shows subtle signs of increasing diversity. The Black population has varied between 1-3% over the years. The Hispanic population has maintained a consistent presence of 1-2%. The Two or More Races category has shown a slight increase from 1% in 2013 to 3% in 2022. These minor shifts suggest a slow trend towards increased diversity, though not sufficient to alter the overall categorization of the neighborhood.
The median income in Juniata has demonstrated a significant upward trend, increasing from $35,457 in 2013 to $54,435 in 2022. This represents a 53.5% increase over nine years. The most substantial increase occurred between 2019 and 2021, with the median income rising from $48,417 to $58,220, before slightly decreasing in 2022.
This economic growth has not led to significant demographic changes, suggesting that the existing population may be experiencing improved economic conditions or that the neighborhood is attracting new residents of similar demographic backgrounds. Population figures have remained relatively stable, with a slight overall decrease from 6,260 in 2013 to 6,037 in 2022. This stability, combined with rising incomes, may indicate a trend of gentrification or economic improvement without significant demographic turnover.
The trend of increasing median income aligns with national economic recovery and growth patterns following the 2008 recession. The stability of the racial composition contrasts with national trends towards increasing diversity in many urban and suburban areas. The slow pace of diversification in Juniata may be indicative of smaller, historically industrial towns that have not experienced significant immigration or demographic shifts compared to larger urban centers.
Juniata presents a case of economic growth within a stable, predominantly white community. While there are subtle signs of increasing diversity, the neighborhood remains categorized as Low Diversity with a strong White Majority. The significant increase in median income without major demographic shifts suggests internal economic development rather than substantial changes in population composition. This pattern may reflect broader trends in similar post-industrial towns in the region, where economic recovery has not necessarily been accompanied by significant demographic changes.
