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Demographic Analysis of Walbrook: A Predominantly Black Neighborhood in Baltimore
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Walbrook, a neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a predominantly Black population (98% as of 2022). The neighborhood has experienced population fluctuations over the past decade, with a current population of 1,521 in 2022, down from its peak of 2,469 in 2018. Economically, Walbrook faces challenges with a median income of $34,924 in 2022, which is below the national average.
Throughout the period from 2013 to 2022, Walbrook has consistently maintained a Low Diversity profile, with the Black population comprising over 90% of residents each year. The neighborhood has remained a Black Majority community, with only minor fluctuations in other racial groups. There was a slight increase in diversity between 2015 and 2020, with the white population reaching 5% in 2017 and 2020, but this trend reversed in recent years, returning to 1% by 2022.
The median income in Walbrook has shown volatility over the past decade. It peaked at $42,220 in 2018, coinciding with the highest population recorded (2,469). However, there has been a general downward trend since then, with the median income dropping to $28,830 in 2021 before slightly recovering to $34,924 in 2022. This economic instability appears to correlate with population changes, as the neighborhood has lost nearly 1,000 residents since 2018.
The fluctuations in income and population suggest a possible outmigration of higher-income residents, which could be contributing to the increased racial homogeneity in recent years. The economic challenges faced by the community may be reinforcing existing demographic patterns rather than promoting increased diversity.
Walbrook's demographic trends contrast with many urban areas across the United States, which have generally been experiencing increasing diversity over the past decade. While many cities have seen growth in Hispanic and Asian populations, Walbrook has maintained an overwhelmingly Black majority. This suggests that the neighborhood may be somewhat isolated from broader demographic shifts occurring at the national level.
The economic struggles of Walbrook mirror challenges faced by many historically Black neighborhoods in large American cities. The median income in Walbrook ($34,924 in 2022) is significantly below the national median household income, which was approximately $70,784 in 2021. This economic disparity highlights the persistent wealth gap between predominantly Black communities and the national average.
The population decline in Walbrook since 2018 could be part of a larger trend of population loss in Baltimore, which has been ongoing for several decades. This trend is common in many post-industrial cities in the Northeast and Midwest United States, often referred to as the "Rust Belt."
Walbrook presents a case of a neighborhood that has maintained its racial composition as a Low Diversity, Black Majority community over the past decade, resisting broader national trends towards increased diversity. However, this stability in racial demographics has been accompanied by economic volatility and population decline, suggesting complex socio-economic challenges that may be reinforcing existing demographic patterns rather than promoting change.
