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Demographic Changes in Moon Valley Heights: Transition to Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Moon Valley Heights, a neighborhood in Columbia, Missouri, represents a Transitional Community with Moderate Diversity as of 2022. The area is characterized by a white plurality (45%) with significant representation from Asian (15%) and multiracial (28%) populations. The neighborhood has experienced demographic shifts over the past decade, transitioning from a predominantly white area to a more diverse community. Moon Valley Heights has seen a population increase in recent years, growing from 272 residents in 2019 to 384 in 2022.
In 2013, Moon Valley Heights had Low Diversity, with a White Majority (68%). Over the next few years, the neighborhood maintained a White Majority status but showed signs of increasing diversity. By 2019, the area had transitioned to Moderate Diversity, with the white population at 70% and growing Asian representation (17%).
The most significant shift occurred between 2019 and 2022. During this period, Moon Valley Heights transformed into a Transitional Community. The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races increased from 6% in 2019 to 28% in 2022. The white population decreased from 70% to 45%, becoming a plurality. This change could be attributed to factors such as changing self-identification patterns, new housing developments, or broader demographic shifts in the Columbia area.
The demographic shifts in Moon Valley Heights correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2015, when the neighborhood was predominantly white, median income rose from $67,291 to $73,124. As the community began to diversify, there was a downward trend in median income, reaching $50,196 in 2021. In 2022, median income rebounded to $67,584, coinciding with the neighborhood's transition to a more diverse community.
The neighborhood experienced a decline in population from 2013 to 2014 but has since seen overall growth, with an increase from 272 residents in 2019 to 490 in 2020, before settling at 384 in 2022. This population growth aligns with the increasing diversity.
The demographic changes in Moon Valley Heights reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban and urban areas. The growth of the multiracial population mirrors the findings of the 2020 U.S. Census, which reported a 276% increase in the multiracial population nationwide between 2010 and 2020.
The economic fluctuations in Moon Valley Heights, especially the recent upswing in median income coupled with increased diversity, could indicate a trend towards gentrification or revitalization. This pattern is seen in many urban areas across the United States.
Moon Valley Heights exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving from a homogeneous community to one of increasing diversity. This shift, coupled with recent economic improvements and population growth, suggests that the neighborhood is undergoing significant changes that may reshape its character and appeal in the coming years.
