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Demographic Analysis of Southern University Neighborhood: A Predominantly African American Community
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Southern University neighborhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a strong Black Majority. As of 2022, the African American population constitutes 82% of the residents. The neighborhood is home to Southern University, one of the largest historically black colleges in the United States, which influences the area's demographic composition and economic landscape.
Over the past decade, Southern University neighborhood has maintained its status as a Black Majority community. From 2013 to 2019, the Black population percentage increased from 76% to 86%. Post-2019, there has been a marginal decrease in the Black population percentage to 82% in 2022, coupled with an increase in the multiracial population from 0% to 6%. The White population has steadily decreased from 18% in 2013 to 9% in 2022.
The neighborhood has experienced significant economic fluctuations over the past decade. Median income dropped from $24,655 in 2014 to $21,651 in 2017, before rising to $44,358 in 2020, and settling at $44,120 in 2022. The population decreased from 7,888 in 2010 to 6,559 in 2019, before rebounding to 7,530 in 2022.
The substantial income increase from 2017 to 2022 indicates a period of significant economic growth, possibly tied to university investments or local economic development initiatives.
The demographic stability of Southern University neighborhood contrasts with national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. The economic improvements, particularly the doubling of median income between 2017 and 2022, outpace national income growth rates for the same period.
The neighborhood's median income ($44,120 in 2022) falls below the national median household income (approximately $70,784 in 2021), indicating ongoing economic challenges despite recent improvements.
Southern University neighborhood maintains its status as a Low Diversity, Black Majority community. Recent trends suggest a potential for subtle demographic shifts and significant economic improvements. These changes may be positioning the neighborhood for a period of economic revitalization and gradual diversification in the coming years.
