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Demographic Evolution of Hillcrest: A Study of White Majority and Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Hillcrest, a neighborhood in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, currently exhibits a White Majority demographic composition with a moderate level of diversity. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 605 residents and a median income of $48,622. Hillcrest has experienced significant fluctuations in both its demographic makeup and economic status over the past decade.
At the beginning of the decade, Hillcrest transitioned from a state of Moderate Diversity to a White Majority community. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as having Moderate Diversity, with white residents comprising 51% of the population, followed by significant Black (24%) and Asian (9%) populations. By 2014, the neighborhood had shifted to a White Majority status, with white residents making up 67% of the population.
This trend towards a White Majority continued throughout the decade, with some fluctuations. The percentage of white residents peaked in 2021 at 75%, briefly pushing the neighborhood into the Low Diversity category. By 2022, the white population decreased slightly to 74%, returning Hillcrest to a White Majority status with elements of Moderate Diversity.
The Hispanic population experienced significant variability, peaking at 17% in 2016 before declining to 4% in 2022. This fluctuation suggests that Hillcrest may have briefly been a Transitional Community in the mid-2010s, particularly with respect to its Hispanic population.
The demographic shifts in Hillcrest have been accompanied by notable economic changes. The median income increased from $54,008 in 2013 to a peak of $78,923 in 2019, coinciding with the solidification of the White Majority status. There was a sharp decline in median income following 2019, dropping to $48,622 in 2022.
This economic downturn occurred alongside a slight increase in diversity, with the Black population rising from 13% in 2020 to 19% in 2022, and the introduction of a small (3%) two or more races category. This suggests that economic factors may be influencing the neighborhood's demographic composition, possibly through changes in housing affordability or employment opportunities.
The demographic trends in Hillcrest reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in many urban areas, though the neighborhood's shift towards a stronger White Majority runs counter to trends in many similar-sized cities. The economic volatility experienced by Hillcrest, particularly the sharp decline in median income after 2019, may be related to the broader economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected many communities across the United States.
Hillcrest presents a case of a neighborhood that has undergone significant demographic and economic changes over the past decade. While it has maintained a White Majority status, the fluctuations in diversity and income levels suggest a dynamic community that is responsive to both local and national socio-economic factors. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether Hillcrest will continue its current trajectory or experience further demographic and economic shifts.
