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Demographic Shifts and Racial Composition in Palestine East, Kansas City
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Palestine East, a neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, exhibits characteristics of a Black Majority community with low diversity. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 1,210 and a median income of $20,560, which is below the national average. Palestine East has an estimated 464 housing units based on the 2022 population and national average household size.
Over the past decade, Palestine East has transitioned from a community with extremely Low Diversity to one that maintains a Black Majority but shows signs of increasing diversity. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as Low Diversity, with 88% of the population identifying as Black. By 2022, while still maintaining a Black Majority at 76%, the community has seen growth in other racial groups, particularly White and Hispanic populations.
The most notable shift occurred between 2019 and 2021, where the Black population decreased from 88% to 65%, while the White population increased from 2% to 15%. This period could be classified as a Transitional Community phase, with significant changes in racial makeup occurring over a short time span.
The median income in Palestine East has fluctuated over the years, but overall has remained low. There appears to be a correlation between increased diversity and changes in median income. The period of highest diversity (2020-2021) coincided with a slight increase in median income, peaking at $26,281 in 2020. However, as the Black Majority reasserted itself in 2022, the median income dropped to its lowest point in the decade at $20,560.
The population has fluctuated, with a general downward trend from 2015 to 2019, followed by an increase from 2020 to 2022. This recent population growth coincides with the period of increased racial diversity.
The trends observed in Palestine East reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in urban neighborhoods, often accompanied by complex socioeconomic changes. The rapid shift in racial composition between 2019 and 2021 could be indicative of gentrification processes seen in many U.S. cities, where historically Black neighborhoods experience an influx of White residents, often accompanied by economic changes.
The persistently low median income suggests that Palestine East may be experiencing a form of "diversity without inclusion," where demographic changes are not necessarily translating into improved economic conditions for all residents. This phenomenon has been observed in other urban areas across the United States, where increased diversity does not always correlate with increased economic opportunity for long-term residents.
The recent trend of population growth coupled with decreasing median income could indicate that while the neighborhood is attracting new residents, it may be struggling with issues of affordability and economic development. This situation presents both challenges and opportunities for community leaders and policymakers to ensure that demographic changes lead to equitable outcomes for all residents of Palestine East.
