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Demographic Shifts and Racial Composition in Jacksonville Heights: A Black Plurality Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Jacksonville Heights, a neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida, exhibits a demographic landscape characterized as a "Black Plurality" community with moderate diversity as of 2022. The neighborhood's population of 13,658 consists of 47% Black, 29% White, and 16% Hispanic residents. The area's median income is $44,217, which is below the national average. Jacksonville Heights combines suburban and semi-rural characteristics.
Over the past decade, Jacksonville Heights has undergone a transformation in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood had "Moderate Diversity" with a near-even split between Black (40%) and White (37%) residents, and a significant Hispanic population (16%). By 2022, the community shifted to a "Black Plurality" status, with the Black population increasing to 47% while the White population decreased to 29%. The Hispanic population remained relatively stable at around 15% throughout the decade. The Asian population increased slightly from 3% in 2013 to 4% in 2022.
The economic trajectory of Jacksonville Heights over the past decade presents a complex picture. In 2013, the median income was $45,631. By 2022, it had slightly decreased to $44,217, representing a minor decline of about 3%. There was a notable peak in median income in 2019 at $49,676, followed by a sharp decline to $43,276 in 2020. The community has since shown signs of recovery but has not yet returned to pre-pandemic income levels.
The period of highest median income (2018-2019) coincided with a slight increase in racial diversity, particularly growth in the Asian population. This suggests that increased diversity may have temporarily correlated with improved economic conditions.
The demographic shifts in Jacksonville Heights reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many U.S. suburbs have seen growing Black and Hispanic populations over the past decade, often accompanied by a relative decrease in the White population. The economic trends in Jacksonville Heights diverge somewhat from national patterns. While many urban areas saw significant income growth in the latter half of the 2010s, Jacksonville Heights' growth was more modest, and the pandemic-related downturn appears to have had a more lasting impact than in some other regions.
The neighborhood's racial composition changes are more pronounced than those of Jacksonville as a whole, suggesting that Jacksonville Heights may be at the forefront of demographic shifts in the broader metropolitan area. This could position the neighborhood as a bellwether for future trends in similar communities across Florida and the Southeast.
Jacksonville Heights presents a picture of a community in transition, balancing increasing racial diversity with economic challenges. As it continues to evolve, the neighborhood may offer insights into the interplay between demographic change and economic development in diverse urban communities.
