Demographic Analysis of Union Square: A Study of Black Majority and Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
Union Square, a neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, is classified as a "Black Majority" community. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 1,287 with a median income of $46,825. Union Square is known for its historic rowhouses and its annual "Souper Bowl" event.
Over the past decade, Union Square has maintained its status as a "Black Majority" community, with the Black population consistently representing over 50% of residents. In 2013, the Black population was 77%. By 2019, it had decreased to 58%. As of 2022, the Black population has increased to 69%.
The White population has shown significant variations, ranging from 18% in 2014 to a peak of 32% in 2019, before settling at 26% in 2022. The Asian and Hispanic populations have remained relatively small but showed some growth, particularly around 2017-2021.
The median income in Union Square has shown considerable volatility over the past decade. It peaked in 2013 at $50,420, declined to $38,098 in 2019, increased to $58,907 in 2021, and then declined to $46,825 in 2022. These economic fluctuations appear to correlate with demographic shifts. The periods of stronger "Black Majority" tend to align with higher median incomes, while the period of increased diversity coincided with lower median incomes.
The demographic trends in Union Square reflect broader patterns seen in many urban areas across the United States, where historically Black neighborhoods experience periods of gentrification and demographic shift. The economic volatility, particularly the sharp increase in median income in 2021 followed by a decline in 2022, may be related to the broader economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery efforts.
The maintenance of a "Black Majority" status in Union Square contrasts with some other urban neighborhoods that have transitioned more dramatically towards "High Diversity" or even "White Plurality" status due to gentrification. This suggests that Union Square has maintained a stronger sense of its historical demographic character compared to some other urban areas experiencing rapid change.
Union Square presents a case of a neighborhood maintaining its "Black Majority" status while experiencing periods of increased diversity and economic fluctuation. These trends reflect the complex interplay between racial demographics, economic factors, and broader urban development patterns in American cities.
