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Demographic Shifts and Racial Composition Changes in Denver's Cole Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Cole neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, currently presents as a "Majority-Minority" community with a significant Hispanic plurality. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 4,502 and a median income of $73,593. Cole has experienced rapid economic growth over the past decade, coupled with a gradual shift in racial composition, suggesting a neighborhood in transition.
In 2013, Cole was categorized as a "Hispanic Majority" neighborhood, with 63% of the population identifying as Hispanic. Over the past decade, the neighborhood has undergone a significant transition. By 2022, while still maintaining a Hispanic plurality at 43%, Cole has shifted to a "Majority-Minority" status. This change is primarily due to an increase in the white population, rising from 22% in 2013 to 42% in 2022, and a slight increase in Asian and multi-racial residents.
The community has moved from "Low Diversity" in 2013 to "Moderate Diversity" by 2022, with three racial groups (Hispanic, White, and Black) each representing over 9% of the population. This shift suggests a trend towards increasing diversity, potentially categorizing Cole as a "Transitional Community."
The demographic changes in Cole correlate with significant economic growth. The median income has increased from $38,741 in 2013 to $73,593 in 2022, a 90% increase. This income growth coincides with the influx of white residents and the diversification of the neighborhood, suggesting a process of gentrification.
While the racial composition has changed and incomes have risen, the overall population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 4,500 and 5,000 residents throughout the decade. This stability in population size, coupled with changing demographics and rising incomes, could indicate a replacement of lower-income residents with higher-income newcomers rather than an overall expansion of the neighborhood.
The changes observed in Cole reflect broader trends seen in many urban neighborhoods across the United States, particularly in rapidly growing cities like Denver. The process of gentrification, characterized by an influx of higher-income residents and changes in racial composition, is a common phenomenon in many metropolitan areas.
The rate of income growth in Cole is notable. While the U.S. median household income grew by about 10% between 2013 and 2022 (adjusting for inflation), Cole's median income nearly doubled. This increase outpaces both national and typical urban gentrification trends, suggesting a particularly intense period of neighborhood transformation.
The shift from a Hispanic majority to a more diverse community with a growing white population is reflective of broader demographic changes in many U.S. cities. However, the retention of a strong Hispanic plurality distinguishes Cole from some gentrifying neighborhoods where minority populations have been more fully displaced.
Cole represents an example of a neighborhood in transition, balancing between its historical identity as a Hispanic-majority, lower-income area and its emerging status as a more economically prosperous, racially diverse community. The challenge for Cole moving forward will be to manage this transition in a way that preserves community cohesion and provides opportunities for long-term residents alongside newcomers.
