Loading Content...
Demographic Analysis of Spring Branch: A White Majority Neighborhood with Emerging Pacific Islander Population
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Spring Branch, a neighborhood in Independence, Missouri, is characterized as a White Majority community with Low Diversity. As of 2022, the white population comprises 77% of the total 2,552 residents. The neighborhood has a median income of $70,467. Spring Branch has experienced an increase in its Pacific Islander population in recent years, an unusual trend for a Midwestern neighborhood.
Over the past decade, Spring Branch has maintained its status as a White Majority community. The white population has decreased from 87% in 2013 to 77% in 2022. The Pacific Islander population grew from 0% in 2013 to 10% in 2022, indicating a potential transition in community demographics. The black population has fluctuated between 2-9% over the years, while the Hispanic population has decreased from 5% in 2013 to 1% in 2022. Despite these changes, the neighborhood has maintained its Low Diversity status throughout the decade.
The median income in Spring Branch has fluctuated over the years. In 2013, it was $76,048, peaking in 2015 at $79,091, and decreasing to $70,467 by 2022. This decline in median income coincides with the decrease in the white majority and the increase in the Pacific Islander population. The neighborhood's population has remained relatively stable, increasing modestly from 2,087 in 2010 to 2,552 in 2022.
The growth of the Pacific Islander population in Spring Branch is unusual for a Midwestern neighborhood, contrasting with national patterns where Pacific Islanders typically concentrate in coastal areas or states with historical ties to Pacific Island nations. The decline in median income from 2013 to 2022 (approximately 7.3%) is notable, especially when compared to national trends of income growth during this period. This local decline may indicate specific economic challenges in Independence or the broader Missouri region.
The persistence of a White Majority in Spring Branch, despite slight declines, aligns with broader demographic trends in many Midwestern cities, where racial diversification is occurring but at a slower pace compared to coastal or urban centers. In conclusion, while Spring Branch remains a White Majority, Low Diversity community, the emerging Pacific Islander population and declining median income suggest a neighborhood in transition. These changes may have implications for community cohesion and economic development in the future.
