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Demographic Analysis of Westwood, Stillwater: A White Majority Neighborhood with Emerging Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Westwood, a neighborhood in Stillwater, Oklahoma, exhibits characteristics of a White Majority community with Low Diversity. As of 2022, the white population comprises 75% of the neighborhood. Westwood is located near Oklahoma State University, which influences its demographic composition and economic patterns.
Over the past decade, Westwood has maintained its status as a White Majority community. From 2013 to 2017, the neighborhood showed signs of moving towards Moderate Diversity. The white population decreased from 76% to 70%, while other racial groups, particularly Asian, Black, and Hispanic populations, saw slight increases. Post-2017, there was a reversal of this trend, with the white population increasing again to 75% by 2022, reinforcing the Low Diversity categorization. The Two or More Races category has steadily increased from 3% in 2016 to 8% in 2022, indicating a gradual shift towards a more mixed-race population.
The median income in Westwood has shown significant fluctuations over the decade. From 2013 to 2018, the median income remained relatively stable at around $23,000. A sharp decline occurred in 2019 and 2020, with median income dropping to about $16,000, coinciding with the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, there was a significant recovery, with median income rising to over $25,000, the highest in the observed period. These economic shifts do not appear to directly correlate with the subtle demographic changes.
The demographic profile of Westwood, with its persistent White Majority, is typical for a college town in Oklahoma. The gradual increase in diversity, particularly in the Two or More Races category, aligns with national trends of increasing multiracial populations in the United States.
The economic volatility observed, especially the sharp decline and rapid recovery in median income, is likely linked to the broader economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many college towns across the U.S. experienced similar economic disruptions due to changes in student populations and university operations during this period.
The recent income recovery to levels higher than pre-pandemic suggests a resilient local economy, possibly supported by the presence of the university and the return of students and associated economic activity.
Westwood maintains its status as a White Majority, Low Diversity community, but subtle shifts towards increased racial mixing are evident. The neighborhood's economic trajectory, marked by recent volatility and strong recovery, reflects its resilience and adaptation to broader socio-economic challenges, likely influenced by its character as a university-adjacent community.
