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Demographic and Racial Shifts in Fort Negley: A Study of Neighborhood Transformation
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Fort Negley, a neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee, exhibits characteristics of a White Majority community with moderate diversity. In 2022, the white population constituted 60% of residents, while the Black population represented 33%. The neighborhood experienced substantial population growth over the past decade, increasing from 98 residents in 2010 to 294 in 2022. Economically, Fort Negley saw an increase in median income from $47,749 in 2013 to $96,989 in 2022, indicating a trend of gentrification and economic development. Fort Negley is named after a Civil War-era fortification.
Fort Negley underwent a significant demographic transition over the past decade. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as a Black Plurality community, with African Americans comprising 45% of the population and whites at 53%. By 2016, it shifted to a White Majority status, with the white population increasing to 74% while the Black population decreased to 16%. This trend slightly reversed in recent years, with the Black population increasing to 33% by 2022, though the area remains a White Majority community.
The neighborhood moved from low diversity in the mid-2010s to moderate diversity in recent years. The Hispanic population remained relatively stable, between 3-6% throughout the decade. The Asian population, while small, showed a slight increase, reaching 3% by 2022.
The demographic shifts in Fort Negley were accompanied by significant economic changes. The median income more than doubled from $47,749 in 2013 to $96,989 in 2022. This increase suggests a pattern of gentrification, potentially driving the initial increase in the white population and the decrease in the Black population.
The peak of median income ($103,124 in 2019) coincided with the highest percentage of white residents (76%). The slight decrease in median income and increase in Black population percentage since 2019 might indicate a small reversal in gentrification trends or a stabilization of the community's demographic makeup.
The demographic and economic changes in Fort Negley reflect broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States. The pattern of gentrification, characterized by rising incomes and shifts in racial composition, is common in many cities experiencing urban renewal and development.
Fort Negley's rapid population growth (nearly 200% increase over a decade) is higher than typical urban growth rates. This could be attributed to specific local factors such as new housing developments or changes in zoning laws.
The median income in Fort Negley ($96,989 in 2022) is higher than the national median household income (about $70,784 in 2021), indicating that this neighborhood has become an affluent area within Chattanooga.
The recent trend of increasing diversity, with growth in the Black population percentage since 2019, might reflect efforts to maintain or increase diversity in gentrifying neighborhoods, a focus of many urban planning initiatives nationwide.
Fort Negley exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving from a diverse, moderate-income area to a predominantly white, high-income neighborhood, and now potentially shifting towards a more balanced demographic composition while maintaining its economic gains. These changes likely have implications for local culture, community dynamics, and housing affordability, presenting both opportunities and challenges for long-term residents and newcomers alike.
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