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Demographic Changes in Hammels: Analyzing Racial Composition and Economic Trends
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Hammels, a neighborhood in Queens, New York, has a population of 12,913 and a median income of $55,229 as of 2022. The neighborhood exhibits a Moderate Diversity profile with a White Plurality. Hammels is part of the Rockaway Peninsula, known for its beaches and boardwalk.
Over the past decade, Hammels has undergone significant demographic changes. In 2013, the neighborhood had a White Plurality, with whites making up 40% of the population. By 2020, it transitioned to a Majority-Minority community, with no single racial group constituting a majority. This shift was primarily driven by an increase in the Hispanic population and a decrease in the Black population. From 2020 to 2022, the White population increased from 35% to 41%, returning the neighborhood to a White Plurality status.
Throughout this period, Hammels maintained Moderate Diversity, with two or three racial groups having significant representation. The Hispanic population showed consistent growth, increasing from 21% in 2013 to 33% in 2021, before declining to 29% in 2022. The Black population decreased from 30% in 2013 to 25% in 2022. The Asian population remained relatively small but stable throughout the decade.
The median income in Hammels has fluctuated over the years, showing some correlation with demographic shifts. In 2013, when the White Plurality was more pronounced, the median income was $56,761. As the neighborhood transitioned towards a Majority-Minority status, there was an increase in median income, peaking at $61,489 in 2017. From 2017 to 2020, as the Hispanic population continued to grow, there was a significant drop in median income, reaching $52,955 in 2020. The most recent data from 2022 shows a slight recovery in median income to $55,229, coinciding with an increase in the White population percentage.
The demographic shifts observed in Hammels align with broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States, particularly the increasing Hispanic population and the concept of Majority-Minority communities. However, the recent uptick in the White population percentage diverges from the national trend of decreasing White population percentages in many urban areas. The fluctuations in median income, especially the significant drop between 2017 and 2020, may reflect broader economic challenges faced by the area. The recovery in 2021 and 2022 could be part of a wider post-pandemic economic rebound seen in many parts of the country.
The Moderate Diversity of Hammels is representative of Queens as a whole, which is known as one of the most diverse counties in the United States. The specific demographic makeup and shifts in Hammels provide a unique example of changing urban demographics and their economic correlates.
