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Demographic Analysis of Mercy Drive: A Predominantly Black Neighborhood in Orlando
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Mercy Drive, a neighborhood in Orlando, Florida, exhibits a predominantly Black demographic composition, with 83% of its population identifying as Black in 2022. The neighborhood has a median income of $21,017 as of 2022, which is below the national average. Mercy Drive has experienced fluctuations in its demographic makeup and economic indicators over the past decade.
Over the past decade, Mercy Drive has maintained its status as a Black Majority neighborhood. From 2013 to 2017, the neighborhood exhibited low diversity, with the Black population consistently above 80%. In 2018, a shift occurred, with the Black population dropping to 67% and the Hispanic population rising to 22%. From 2019 to 2022, the neighborhood returned to its Black Majority status, with the Black population rising above 75%.
The economic trajectory of Mercy Drive shows a pattern of gradual improvement. From 2013 to 2019, median income remained around $16,000-$17,000. From 2020 to 2022, median income increased, reaching $22,623 in 2020, peaking at $23,511 in 2021, and declining slightly to $21,017 in 2022. This economic improvement coincides with the period of increased racial diversity around 2018-2019.
Population trends in Mercy Drive have been relatively stable, fluctuating between 2,100 and 2,700 residents over the decade. There was a slight population decline from 2,650 in 2010 to 2,207 in 2022, which might indicate some outmigration.
Mercy Drive's demographic and economic trends can be contextualized within broader national patterns. The persistent Black Majority status of Mercy Drive contrasts with national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. The neighborhood's median income remains significantly below the national median household income. The brief period of increased diversity in 2018 aligns with national trends of growing Hispanic populations in urban areas, though this trend appears to have reversed in Mercy Drive.
Mercy Drive presents a case of a neighborhood that has maintained a strong Black Majority status despite brief periods of increased diversity. Its recent economic improvements, while significant in percentage terms, still leave the neighborhood below national averages. This suggests that while there have been positive changes, challenges remain in terms of economic development and potentially in fostering sustained diversity.
