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Demographic Analysis of Kingsway East: A Black Majority Neighborhood with Emerging Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Kingsway East, a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a strong Black Majority. As of 2022, 95% of the population identifies as Black, with a small but growing Hispanic presence. The neighborhood has experienced significant economic improvement, with median income increasing from $18,956 in 2018 to $45,299 in 2022. This increase in median income suggests potential changes in the neighborhood's economic landscape.
Throughout the past decade, Kingsway East has maintained its status as a Black Majority community, with the percentage of Black residents ranging from 95% to 100%. There are subtle signs of increasing diversity, with the Hispanic population growing from 0% in 2017 to 4% in 2022, and the emergence of a small Pacific Islander population (1%) in 2022. These changes suggest the neighborhood may be in the early stages of becoming a Transitional Community, albeit at a very slow pace.
The neighborhood has experienced notable economic growth, particularly in recent years. Median income remained relatively stable between 2013 ($15,978) and 2018 ($18,956), but a significant increase occurred from 2019 ($28,916) to 2020 ($42,539), with continued growth to $45,299 in 2022. This economic improvement correlates with the slight increase in diversity, suggesting potential changes in the neighborhood's demographic and economic composition.
Population trends show a slight decline from 3,704 in 2010 to 3,392 in 2022, with some fluctuations. The recent uptick in population since 2019 coincides with the increase in median income, potentially indicating renewed interest in the neighborhood.
The economic growth in Kingsway East is noteworthy, considering broader trends of urban revitalization in many U.S. cities. The persistent Black Majority in the neighborhood, despite minor diversification, suggests that Kingsway East may be experiencing what some urban planners call "Black gentrification" – where middle and upper-income Black residents move into or remain in historically Black neighborhoods, leading to economic improvements without significant racial demographic shifts.
The slow pace of diversification in Kingsway East contrasts with national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. However, the economic improvements align with broader patterns of income growth in revitalizing urban neighborhoods across the United States.
Kingsway East remains a Low Diversity, Black Majority neighborhood, but shows early signs of transitioning towards greater diversity and has experienced significant economic growth. These changes could have implications for local life, potentially bringing new businesses, improved services, and changed community dynamics. It will be crucial to monitor whether these improvements benefit long-term residents or lead to displacement, a common concern in rapidly changing urban neighborhoods.
