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Demographic and Economic Trends in Jacksonville's Otis Neighborhood: A Predominantly White Community in Transition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Otis neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida, is characterized as a "Low Diversity" community with a white majority of 76% in 2022. The area has experienced economic fluctuations over the past decade, with median income peaking in 2015 and subsequently declining. Otis is located near the Jacksonville International Airport, which may influence its demographic and economic patterns.
From 2013 to 2019, Otis showed a trend towards "Moderate Diversity," with the white population decreasing from 83% to 65% and the black population increasing from 15% to 26%. However, from 2020 onwards, there was a reversal back to "Low Diversity," with the white population increasing to 76% by 2022. The Hispanic population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 1% and 5% throughout the decade. The Asian population has increased from 0% to 4% in 2022, potentially indicating the beginning of a "Transitional Community" phase.
The economic landscape of Otis has been volatile. Median income peaked in 2015 at $82,206, coinciding with the period of increasing diversity. From 2016 to 2022, there was a significant decline in median income, dropping to $55,109 in 2022, a decrease of nearly 33% from the 2015 peak. This economic downturn correlates with the demographic shift back to a more homogeneous racial composition, suggesting possible economic pressures influencing population dynamics.
The population has fluctuated, with a notable increase from 2015 to 2017 (from 4,024 to 4,966), followed by a decline to 4,315 in 2022, possibly reflecting the economic challenges.
The trend of increasing diversity followed by a return to a more homogeneous population is somewhat atypical compared to national trends, which generally show increasing diversity in urban areas. The significant drop in median income since 2015 is more severe than national averages, suggesting local economic factors at play, possibly related to changes in the aviation industry or other major employers in the area. The recent increase in the Asian population, while small, aligns with broader national trends of growing Asian communities in various urban and suburban areas.
The Otis neighborhood has experienced a complex demographic evolution over the past decade, oscillating between periods of increasing diversity and a return to a more homogeneous racial composition. These shifts have occurred against a backdrop of significant economic challenges, as evidenced by the sharp decline in median income. The neighborhood's proximity to the Jacksonville International Airport likely plays a role in these dynamics, potentially influencing both employment opportunities and population movement. As Otis enters a possible "Transitional Community" phase with the recent increase in Asian residents, it will be crucial to monitor how these demographic and economic trends develop in the coming years and their impact on the local community.
