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Demographic Shifts and Racial Composition in Oakland's Bartlett Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Bartlett neighborhood in Oakland, California, exhibits characteristics of a Majority-Minority community with Moderate Diversity as of 2022. No single racial group comprises more than 50% of the population, with Hispanic residents forming the largest group at 44%. The neighborhood has transitioned from a predominantly Black and Asian community to one with a strong Hispanic presence over the past decade. Economically, Bartlett has experienced income growth, with the median income increasing from $36,741 in 2013 to $55,318 in 2022, suggesting a trend of gentrification or economic development.
In 2013, Bartlett was categorized as having Moderate Diversity, with Black residents forming a plurality (39%) followed by Asian residents (29%). Over the decade, the neighborhood transitioned to a Majority-Minority status with increasing Hispanic representation. By 2022, the Hispanic population became the dominant group at 44%, indicating a Transitional Community status. The Black population decreased from 39% in 2013 to 14% in 2022, while the Asian population declined from 29% to 18%. The Hispanic population increased from 20% to 44%. The White population increased from 5% to 14% over the same period.
The demographic shifts in Bartlett correlate with an upward trend in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the median income increased by about 50%, from $36,741 to $55,318. This economic growth coincided with the increasing Hispanic population and the gradual rise in the White population percentage. There was a spike in median income to $70,874 in 2021, followed by a return to the previous trend in 2022. The rising incomes, coupled with demographic shifts, suggest a neighborhood in transition.
The demographic changes in Bartlett reflect broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States, particularly the increasing Hispanic population and the decline in Black residents in some historically Black neighborhoods. The economic growth in Bartlett, while significant, still places the neighborhood below the median household income for California, which was around $78,672 in 2021.
The transition from a predominantly Black and Asian neighborhood to one with a Hispanic plurality is part of larger demographic shifts occurring in the Bay Area. This change could be influenced by factors such as immigration patterns, housing affordability issues pushing some populations out while attracting others, and changing job markets in the region.
The gradual increase in the White population percentage, coupled with rising incomes, suggests that Bartlett may be experiencing early stages of gentrification, a process common in many urban neighborhoods across the country. However, the maintained diversity of the neighborhood indicates that this process is not leading to a homogeneous community, but rather a more mixed one in terms of both race and potentially socioeconomic status.
