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Demographic and Racial Composition of Soulard: A White Majority Neighborhood in Transition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Soulard, a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, exhibits a White Majority demographic profile with a median income of $64,592 as of 2022. The neighborhood has maintained this racial composition over the past decade, with notable shifts in diversity. Soulard is known for its historic architecture, vibrant music scene, and the Soulard Farmers Market.
Over the past decade, Soulard has consistently maintained its status as a White Majority community, with the white population representing over 50% of residents throughout the period. From 2013 to 2022, Soulard shows characteristics of a Transitional Community. The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races increased from 1% to 5%, and the Hispanic population grew from 1% to 3%, indicating a trend towards increasing diversity.
While maintaining a White Majority, the neighborhood experienced periods of Moderate Diversity, particularly between 2016 and 2020, when the Black population reached its peak (28% in 2017). The most recent data (2022) shows a slight reversal of the diversification trend, with the white population increasing to 72% from 67% in 2021, while the Black population decreased to 15% from 20%.
The demographic shifts in Soulard correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2019, there was an increase in median income from $48,820 to $74,140, coinciding with the period of increasing diversity. The years 2020-2022 saw some volatility in median income, dropping to $61,702 in 2020 before recovering to $64,592 in 2022. This period aligns with a slight reversal in the diversification trend. Despite these demographic and economic shifts, the population has remained relatively stable, hovering around 2,700-2,900 residents throughout the decade.
The trends observed in Soulard reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in urban neighborhoods, particularly in historically white-majority areas. The recent slight reversal in diversity trends may be unique to Soulard or indicative of larger demographic shifts in St. Louis. The neighborhood's economic trajectory, with income growth followed by recent fluctuations, mirrors national trends of urban gentrification and subsequent economic challenges.
Soulard presents a case of a neighborhood balancing between its historical demographic makeup and emerging diversity, while experiencing economic changes. These trends suggest a community in transition, navigating the interplay of racial demographics and economic factors in an urban setting.
