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Demographic Analysis of Windmill Ridge: Racial Composition and Economic Trends
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Windmill Ridge, a neighborhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana, exhibits a low diversity demographic profile with a white majority of 80% in 2022. The area has experienced economic fluctuations over the past decade, with median income peaking at $114,030 in 2019 before declining in recent years. Windmill Ridge is known for its green spaces and community parks, which have been important to local residents despite demographic and economic changes.
Over the past decade, Windmill Ridge has undergone changes in its racial composition while maintaining a white majority status. In 2013, the neighborhood had an 84% white population. By 2020, it shifted towards moderate diversity, with the white population decreasing to 71% and the black population increasing to 21%. However, by 2022, the neighborhood returned to a low diversity status with an 80% white population.
The most significant change has been the increase in the black population, from 11% in 2013 to 15% in 2022, with a peak of 24% in 2021. This shift indicates a gradual integration of African American residents into the predominantly white neighborhood. The Asian population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 2-8% throughout the decade.
The economic trajectory of Windmill Ridge has been volatile. The median income rose from $92,677 in 2013 to $114,030 in 2019, coinciding with the period of increasing diversity. However, there was a decline to $66,976 in 2020, which may have influenced the reversal of the diversity trend.
The income decline in 2020 could be attributed to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As the income dropped, the neighborhood saw its highest percentage of black residents (21% in 2020 and 24% in 2021), suggesting that economic challenges may have led to increased diversity, possibly due to more affordable housing options.
The demographic changes in Windmill Ridge reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. However, the reversal of this trend in recent years is atypical. The neighborhood's economic volatility aligns with national economic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, though the extent of the decline appears more pronounced than national averages.
The population of Windmill Ridge has remained relatively stable over the decade, ranging from 189 to 251 residents. This stability, despite economic fluctuations, suggests a strong community attachment to the area, possibly due to its desirable features like the green spaces.
Windmill Ridge presents a case of a neighborhood that briefly trended towards increased diversity but has since reverted to a more homogeneous demographic profile. The economic instability of recent years may have played a role in these demographic shifts, highlighting the relationship between economic factors and racial composition in American neighborhoods.
