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Demographic Shifts and Racial Composition in Leinkauf Neighborhood, Mobile, Alabama
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Leinkauf, a neighborhood in Mobile, Alabama, exhibits characteristics of a Moderate Diversity community with a slight Black Plurality. As of 2022, the Black population constitutes 57% of the neighborhood, while the White population makes up 42%. The median income in 2022 was $49,477, showing an increase over the past decade. Leinkauf is known for its historic district, featuring examples of early 20th-century residential architecture.
Over the past decade, Leinkauf has undergone a demographic transition. In 2013, the neighborhood had a slight Black Majority (51%). By 2019, it shifted to a White Plurality (50%), before returning to a Black Plurality in recent years. This oscillation between Black Majority/Plurality and White Plurality suggests a dynamic community.
The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races has remained low, briefly appearing in the data from 2017 to 2020 at 1%. Hispanic representation emerged in the data in 2022 at 1%, potentially indicating the beginning of increased diversity.
The median income in Leinkauf has shown overall growth, rising from $44,305 in 2013 to $49,477 in 2022, an increase of about 11.7%. This growth has not been linear. The neighborhood experienced a dip in median income in 2014 and 2015, dropping to around $39,000, before rebounding and showing a general upward trend.
The periods of lower median income (2014-2015) coincided with a higher percentage of Black residents (60%). As the racial composition became more balanced in subsequent years, the median income generally increased. This correlation suggests a potential link between demographic shifts and economic conditions in the neighborhood.
Population figures have fluctuated over the decade, peaking at 1,912 in 2013 and reaching a low of 1,360 in 2019. The recent uptick to 1,620 in 2022 might indicate a renewed interest in the neighborhood, possibly due to its improving economic conditions and historic charm.
Leinkauf's demographic shifts should be viewed within the broader context of Mobile and Alabama. Many urban areas across the United States have experienced similar demographic changes. The modest income growth in Leinkauf aligns with national trends of slow but steady economic recovery following the 2008 financial crisis.
The neighborhood's transition between Black Majority/Plurality and White Plurality reflects broader national conversations about changing urban demographics. Unlike some rapidly gentrifying areas in major cities, Leinkauf's changes appear more gradual, potentially allowing for a more organic integration of diverse populations.
The emergence of a small Hispanic population in 2022 mirrors national trends of increasing Hispanic representation in various communities across the U.S., though at a much smaller scale in Leinkauf.
Leinkauf presents a picture of a moderately diverse, economically improving neighborhood that has maintained a balance between its Black and White populations over the past decade. Its historic character, combined with these demographic and economic shifts, positions it as a community in transition, potentially poised for further diversification and development in the coming years.
