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Demographic Composition and Racial Trends in Historic Southwest, Rochester: A Low Diversity Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Historic Southwest, a neighborhood in Rochester, Minnesota, demonstrates a low diversity demographic profile with a predominant white population of 74% as of 2022. The neighborhood has experienced gradual shifts towards increased diversity over the past decade. In 2022, the population was 2,202 with a median income of $71,329. The area is characterized by well-preserved late 19th and early 20th century architecture.
From 2013 to 2022, Historic Southwest has maintained a low diversity categorization, with the white population consistently above 70%. The Asian population has shown the most significant growth, increasing from 6% in 2013 to 15% in 2022. Between 2019-2021, the neighborhood briefly approached the threshold of a transitional community, with increases in Asian, Black, and multi-racial populations.
The median income has grown substantially, rising from $51,856 in 2013 to $71,329 in 2022, an increase of approximately 37.5% over a decade. This income growth correlates with the increasing Asian population, potentially suggesting an influx of higher-income Asian professionals. The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 2,000-2,400 residents.
The trend of increasing Asian population in Historic Southwest aligns with broader national trends, where Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the United States. The income growth in this neighborhood outpaces the national average, which saw about a 20% increase in median household income over a similar period. The preservation of a white majority in this historic neighborhood, despite increasing diversity, may reflect broader patterns in older, established neighborhoods in mid-sized Midwestern cities.
Historic Southwest remains categorized as low diversity but shows signs of gradual transition. The increasing Asian population and rising median income suggest a slow but steady shift in the neighborhood's demographic and economic landscape. These changes, occurring within a historically significant area, present dynamics between preservation and evolution in this Rochester community.
