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Demographic Analysis of Oaklawn: A Low Diversity, Black Majority Neighborhood in Charlotte
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Oaklawn neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a Black Majority comprising 90% of the population as of 2022. This predominantly African American community has maintained its racial composition relatively consistently over the past decade. Economically, the neighborhood faces challenges, with a median income of $27,371 in 2022, below the national average. Oaklawn was established in the early 20th century as one of Charlotte's first planned Black suburbs.
Throughout the observed period (2013-2022), Oaklawn has consistently maintained its status as a Low Diversity, Black Majority neighborhood. The percentage of Black residents has remained above 90% for most years, with slight fluctuations. There has been a minor increase in the White population, from 1% in 2013 to 6% in 2022, suggesting a slow trend towards increased diversity. The Hispanic population has fluctuated between 0% and 3%, while the Asian and Native American presence has remained negligible.
The median income in Oaklawn has fluctuated over the past decade, showing no clear upward trend. In 2013, the median income was $32,560, the highest recorded in the dataset. It declined to $23,062 in 2016 before gradually increasing to $29,762 in 2021, then dropping to $27,371 in 2022. This economic instability correlates with the persistent Low Diversity status of the neighborhood. The population of Oaklawn has decreased from 681 in 2010 to 481 in 2022.
The demographic profile of Oaklawn contrasts with broader trends in Charlotte and many other U.S. cities, which have generally been moving towards greater diversity. The economic challenges faced by Oaklawn, with median incomes below the national average, reflect broader issues of economic disparity often seen in predominantly minority neighborhoods in urban areas across the United States.
The slight increase in the White population could be an early indicator of potential gentrification pressures that many historically Black neighborhoods in growing cities face. However, the overall stability of the racial composition suggests that any such changes are occurring at a very slow pace in Oaklawn.
Oaklawn presents a picture of a neighborhood that has maintained its demographic character as a Low Diversity, Black Majority community over the past decade, despite facing economic challenges and slight shifts in racial composition. The neighborhood's resilience in maintaining its cultural identity, coupled with its economic struggles, highlights the complex interplay between racial demographics, economic factors, and community dynamics in urban America.
