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Demographic and Racial Transitions in Capitol East, Des Moines: A Study of White and Hispanic Population Shifts
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Capitol East, a neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa, is characterized as a White Plurality community with moderate diversity as of 2022. The white population comprises 52% of residents, slightly above the majority threshold. Over the past decade, the neighborhood has undergone significant demographic changes and fluctuations in median income. Capitol East's proximity to the Iowa State Capitol complex is a notable feature that may influence its socioeconomic dynamics.
Capitol East has experienced notable transitions in its racial composition over the past decade. In 2013, the neighborhood was classified as a White Plurality community with Moderate Diversity, with white residents constituting 49% of the population and Hispanic residents 36%. By 2017, it had shifted to a Hispanic Plurality and was considered a Majority-Minority community, with Hispanic residents comprising 48% of the population and white residents decreasing to 34%. The most recent data from 2022 indicates a reversal of this trend, with the white population increasing to 52%, re-establishing a White Majority, albeit by a small margin. These fluctuations suggest a Transitional Community status, with significant changes occurring over relatively short periods.
The median income in Capitol East has shown considerable volatility over the observed period. In 2013, the median income was $39,598, which declined to a low of $29,834 in 2019 before increasing slightly to $34,675 in 2022. This overall downward trend in median income correlates with the observed demographic shifts. The period of lowest median income (2018-2019) coincides with the time when the neighborhood was most diverse and had the highest Hispanic population percentage. As the white population percentage increased from 2020 to 2022, there was a modest recovery in median income, though it remains below the 2013 levels.
The population of Capitol East has also fluctuated, decreasing from 2,167 in 2010 to 1,684 in 2022. This population decline, coupled with the income volatility, suggests economic challenges in the neighborhood that may be influencing or being influenced by the demographic changes.
The demographic shifts in Capitol East reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas, particularly the growth of Hispanic populations in many U.S. cities. However, the recent reversal towards a white majority is somewhat unusual and may be specific to local factors in Des Moines or this particular neighborhood. The economic challenges faced by Capitol East, as evidenced by the declining median income, are also reflective of wider issues faced by many urban neighborhoods across the United States, particularly those experiencing rapid demographic changes. The median household income in the U.S. in 2022 was approximately $70,784, which is significantly higher than Capitol East's $34,675, indicating that this neighborhood faces more severe economic challenges than the national average.
Capitol East exemplifies a Transitional Community, experiencing significant demographic and economic fluctuations over the past decade. These changes likely have profound implications for local community dynamics, public services, and economic development strategies in the neighborhood.
