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Demographic Analysis of Wentworth Gardens, Chicago: Persistent Low Diversity and Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Wentworth Gardens, a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, exhibits a demographic profile characterized by low diversity with a predominant Black population. As of 2022, the neighborhood has 495 residents and an estimated 190 housing units. The median income in Wentworth Gardens was $13,730 in 2022, significantly below the poverty line and one of the lowest in Chicago.
Over the past decade, Wentworth Gardens has experienced a subtle transition in its racial composition while maintaining its status as a low diversity neighborhood with a Black majority. In 2013, the neighborhood was entirely Black. By 2022, while still predominantly Black (82%), the community saw small increases in diversity: the White population increased to 7%, the Asian population to 6%, and the Two or More Races category to 5%.
The economic situation in Wentworth Gardens has remained challenging throughout the decade. The median income has fluctuated but generally remained very low: $13,475 in 2013, $11,291 in 2017 (the lowest point), and $13,730 in 2022. Despite a slight increase in recent years, the median income has barely kept pace with inflation and remains extremely low.
The population has shown variability, ranging from a low of 332 in 2016 to the current high of 495 in 2022. This recent population increase, coupled with the slight diversification, might indicate the beginning of a subtle transitional community trend, though it is too early to definitively categorize it as such.
Wentworth Gardens' demographic and economic profile contrasts with broader trends in Chicago and nationally. While many urban areas have seen increasing diversity and gentrification over the past decade, Wentworth Gardens has maintained its status as a predominantly Black, extremely low-income neighborhood. The median household income for Chicago as a whole was around $62,097 in 2020, more than four times that of Wentworth Gardens.
The slow increase in diversity in Wentworth Gardens is less pronounced than trends seen in many other urban neighborhoods across the United States. Many cities have experienced more rapid demographic shifts due to factors like immigration, gentrification, and changing housing preferences. The relative stability of Wentworth Gardens' demographic composition suggests that the neighborhood may face significant barriers to change, possibly including limited economic opportunities, inadequate housing stock, or other systemic issues.
Wentworth Gardens shows signs of very gradual diversification and a recent uptick in population. It remains a neighborhood characterized by extreme poverty and racial homogeneity. The subtle changes observed over the past decade may indicate the potential for future transformation, but significant challenges remain in addressing the persistent economic disparities and lack of diversity that have defined this community for years.
