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Demographic Changes in Folkstone: From White Majority to Increased Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Folkstone neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina, classified as a "White Majority" community with moderate diversity as of 2022, has a population of 751 and a median income of $75,523. Over the past decade, Folkstone has undergone significant demographic changes, transitioning from a predominantly white area to one with increasing diversity, particularly in its Asian and Black populations.
In 2013, Folkstone was categorized as "White Majority" with 76% of the population identifying as white. By 2018, it had shifted to a "Moderate Diversity" classification, with the white population decreasing to 56% and significant increases in Asian and Black populations. Between 2019 and 2020, the neighborhood briefly entered a "Majority-Minority" state, with the white population dropping to 47% and the "two or more races" category increasing to 24%. By 2022, the neighborhood returned to a "White Majority" status, but with a more diverse composition than a decade earlier. The white population stood at 58%, with Black (23%) and Asian (15%) minorities.
The demographic shifts in Folkstone correlate with changes in median income. In 2013, when the neighborhood was predominantly white, the median income was $99,548. As diversity increased, there was a downward trend in median income, reaching $74,280 in 2019. This trend began to reverse in 2020, coinciding with the brief "Majority-Minority" period. By 2022, the median income had recovered to $75,523, suggesting a stabilization as the neighborhood settled into its new, more diverse composition.
The population fluctuated over the decade, with no clear correlation to racial or economic changes. This suggests that the demographic shifts were likely due to changing resident composition rather than significant influxes or exoduses of population.
The demographic evolution of Folkstone reflects broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many U.S. cities have experienced similar transitions, with previously homogeneous neighborhoods becoming more diverse due to factors such as changing housing preferences, economic opportunities, and shifting cultural attitudes.
The economic trajectory of Folkstone, with its initial decline and subsequent stabilization, is not uncommon in transitioning neighborhoods. Often, as neighborhoods diversify, there can be an initial period of economic adjustment followed by stabilization or growth as the community establishes a new equilibrium.
Folkstone's transition from a low-diversity, high-income area to a moderately diverse, middle-income neighborhood exemplifies the dynamic nature of American communities. This transition presents opportunities for cultural enrichment and community development in Durham.
