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Demographic Analysis of Zip Code 50241: A Study of Racial Homogeneity in St. Marys, Iowa
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Zip code 50241 in St. Marys, Iowa, exhibits a distinctive demographic profile as of 2022. The area has a population of 3 people and a median income of $99,217. This zip code is classified as having "Low Diversity" based on its demographic characteristics. The racial composition data shows a 100% white population from 2013 to 2022, indicating a racially homogeneous community.
The community has maintained its "Low Diversity" status throughout the period from 2013 to 2022. The racial composition has remained constant, with 100% of the population identified as white. This lack of change in racial demographics is uncommon and may be attributed to the extremely small population size, which limits the potential for demographic shifts.
Despite the stable racial composition, there have been notable fluctuations in median income. From 2013 to 2015, there was a decline in median income from $77,646 to $63,841. From 2015 to 2020, there was a significant increase in median income, reaching a peak of $99,217 in 2020. There was a slight decrease in 2021 to $94,240, before returning to $99,217 in 2022. These economic changes occurred without any corresponding shifts in racial demographics, suggesting that other factors may be driving these income fluctuations.
Population figures have remained stable, with 3 residents reported for most years, except for a brief increase to 4 in 2020. This stability in population, combined with the consistent racial makeup, suggests a very settled community with little in-migration or out-migration.
The demographic stability and lack of diversity in this zip code contrast with national trends, which have generally shown increasing racial diversity in many areas of the United States over the past decade. The extremely small population size of this zip code makes it an outlier in demographic studies and limits the applicability of typical diversity measures.
The median income in this zip code ($99,217 in 2022) is higher than the national median household income, which was around $70,784 in 2021. This indicates that despite its small size and lack of diversity, the community is economically prosperous relative to national averages.
Zip code 50241 in St. Marys, Iowa, presents a case of a very small, racially homogeneous community that has maintained its demographic composition over the past decade while experiencing economic fluctuations. The community's "Low Diversity" categorization has remained constant, differing from broader national trends towards increasing diversity. The economic prosperity of this small community, as indicated by its high median income, suggests that factors other than racial diversity are driving its economic outcomes. This case study emphasizes the importance of considering local context and scale when applying demographic categorizations and analyzing trends in very small communities.
