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Demographic and Racial Trends in the Cathedral District: A Black Majority Neighborhood in Saginaw, Michigan
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Cathedral District in Saginaw, Michigan, is a Black Majority community facing economic challenges. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 2,382, with 63% of residents identifying as Black. The median income of $29,800 is below the national average, indicating a lower-income urban area. The neighborhood is home to the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, a landmark since 1903.
Over the past decade, the Cathedral District has maintained its status as a Black Majority community, with subtle shifts in racial composition. The Black population has slightly decreased from 68% in 2013 to 63% in 2022. The Hispanic population fluctuated, peaking at 21% in 2018 before settling at 16% in 2022. The White population gradually increased from 12% in 2013 to 16% in 2022. The category of two or more races grew from 2% in 2013 to 5% in 2022. These shifts suggest a trend towards slightly increased diversity.
The economic trajectory of the Cathedral District shows a complex pattern. There has been a general upward trend in median income, rising from $25,125 in 2013 to $29,800 in 2022, with significant fluctuations. The neighborhood has experienced a steady population decrease, from 3,583 in 2013 to 2,382 in 2022, a decline of about 33%. The increase in median income, despite population decline, could indicate outmigration of lower-income residents, gradual economic improvements for long-term residents, or an influx of relatively higher-income residents.
The trends observed in the Cathedral District align with broader patterns seen in many urban areas across the Rust Belt. Many Midwest cities have experienced population loss due to deindustrialization and suburban migration. The persistent Black Majority status is common in many inner-city neighborhoods of older industrial cities. The median income, while showing improvement, remains significantly below national averages, reflecting ongoing economic challenges in many urban core areas.
The slight increase in diversity, particularly the growth in the Hispanic population and those identifying as two or more races, mirrors national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. However, the Cathedral District's changes are more modest compared to rapidly diversifying areas in growing Sunbelt cities.
The Cathedral District shows signs of gradual economic improvement and slight diversification. It remains a predominantly Black, lower-income urban neighborhood facing ongoing challenges of population loss and economic disparity. These trends reflect both local dynamics and broader patterns of urban change in similar post-industrial American cities.
