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Demographic and Racial Evolution in Sandpiper West, Little Rock: A Study of White Majority and Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
United States Census Bureau: American Community Survey Data (ACS)
Sandpiper West, a neighborhood in Little Rock, Arkansas, exhibits a White Majority demographic composition with moderate diversity as of 2022. The white population comprises 58% of residents, followed by Asian (25%) and Black (12%) populations. The neighborhood's median income is $75,932 in 2022, suggesting an upper-middle-class community. Sandpiper West is located near the Arkansas River and has well-maintained parks.
Over the past decade, Sandpiper West has undergone a transformation in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood had a White Majority (63%) with low diversity. By 2020, it transitioned to a Moderate Diversity classification, with no racial group exceeding 50% (White 49%, Asian 34%, Black 10%). This shift was driven by an increase in the Asian population, which grew from 12% in 2013 to 34% in 2020. By 2022, the neighborhood returned to a White Majority status, but with a more diverse composition than a decade earlier.
The median income in Sandpiper West has fluctuated over the years, showing a general downward trend from $91,031 in 2013 to $75,932 in 2022, with exceptions. The lowest point was $76,085 in 2020, coinciding with the peak of racial diversity in the neighborhood. There was an increase to $96,486 in 2021, followed by a significant drop in 2022. These economic shifts appear to correlate with the demographic changes.
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The demographic evolution of Sandpiper West reflects broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many U.S. cities have experienced similar patterns of growing Asian and Hispanic populations in traditionally white-majority neighborhoods. The specific pattern in Sandpiper West, with significant Asian population growth followed by a slight reversal, is somewhat unique.
The economic fluctuations in Sandpiper West, particularly the sharp rise and fall in median income between 2020 and 2022, may be partially attributed to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many U.S. communities experienced economic volatility during this period, though the extreme swing in Sandpiper West suggests local factors may also be at play.
Sandpiper West exemplifies a Transitional Community, having undergone significant demographic and economic changes over the past decade. While it has returned to a White Majority status, the neighborhood now has a much more diverse population than it did in 2013. These changes likely reflect broader trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas, as well as local economic and development factors specific to Little Rock and Arkansas.
