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Demographic Analysis of MacFarlane, Dayton: A Low Diversity Neighborhood with 95% Black Population
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
MacFarlane, a neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio, exhibits characteristics of a Low Diversity community with a significant Black Majority. In 2022, 95% of the population identified as Black, with minimal representation from other racial groups. The neighborhood's population in 2022 was 331, with a median income of $23,919. MacFarlane has an estimated housing stock of approximately 127 units.
MacFarlane has maintained its status as a Black Majority neighborhood from 2013 to 2022. The percentage of Black residents increased from 92% in 2013 to 95% in 2022, reinforcing its Low Diversity categorization. Between 2013 and 2015, the neighborhood briefly showed movement towards Moderate Diversity, with the White population reaching 11% in 2015. However, this trend reversed, and the community became more homogeneous in subsequent years. The 2022 data shows a small increase in Asian representation (3%), potentially indicating the beginning of a Transitional Community phase.
The median income in MacFarlane has shown volatility over the decade. It increased from $12,420 in 2013 to $26,310 in 2021, before decreasing to $23,919 in 2022. This overall upward trend in income correlates with the increasing racial homogeneity of the neighborhood. Despite this improvement, the median income remains low compared to national averages, indicating persistent economic challenges. Population trends have been generally declining, from 593 in 2013 to 331 in 2022, representing a significant decrease of about 44%.
The demographic profile of MacFarlane contrasts with national trends towards increasing diversity in urban areas. While many U.S. cities are experiencing growing racial and ethnic diversity, MacFarlane has become more homogeneous. This could indicate broader patterns of racial segregation that persist in many American cities.
The economic improvements in MacFarlane, while positive, still leave the neighborhood far behind national income averages. The median household income in the United States was around $70,000 in 2021, making MacFarlane's 2022 median of $23,919 fall significantly below this benchmark.
The dramatic population decrease in MacFarlane over the decade is notable and may reflect broader challenges facing Rust Belt cities like Dayton, which have experienced industrial decline and subsequent population loss in recent decades.
MacFarlane presents a complex picture of a highly segregated, low-income urban neighborhood that has seen some economic improvements alongside increasing racial homogeneity and significant population loss. These trends highlight the ongoing challenges of racial and economic segregation in American cities and the need for targeted interventions to promote both diversity and economic opportunity in neighborhoods like MacFarlane.
