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Demographic Shifts and Racial Composition in SWAN Neighborhood, Grand Rapids
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The SWAN neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is characterized as a White Majority community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the population is 5,031 with a median income of $49,678. The neighborhood has experienced significant demographic and economic changes over the past decade, reflecting urban trends of gentrification and community transformation.
From 2013 to 2022, SWAN underwent a notable transition in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as a White Majority (58%) with significant Hispanic representation (28%). Between 2014 and 2017, the neighborhood shifted towards a Moderate Diversity classification, with the white population at 53-55% and Hispanic population around 28-31%. From 2018 to 2020, a trend towards increasing White Majority emerged, reaching 71% in 2020, while the Hispanic population decreased to 15%. In 2021-2022, the neighborhood stabilized as a strong White Majority (66-69%), with minor fluctuations in other racial groups.
The demographic shifts correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2016, as racial diversity increased, median income decreased from $41,674 to $32,515. Between 2017 and 2021, as the White Majority strengthened, median income rose from $36,237 to $60,137. In 2022, a slight decrease in median income to $49,678 coincided with a small decrease in the White population percentage. The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 4,400 and 5,100 residents.
The trends observed in SWAN mirror broader patterns seen in many urban areas across the United States. The initial increase in diversity followed by a strengthening White Majority and rising incomes is characteristic of gentrification processes observed in other cities. However, SWAN's median income in 2022 ($49,678) remains below the national median household income, indicating that the neighborhood still faces economic challenges compared to national averages.
The fluctuations in racial composition, particularly the decrease in the Hispanic population from 31% in 2014 to 13% in 2022, raise questions about displacement and community change that are common in rapidly evolving urban neighborhoods. This trend aligns with national conversations about the impacts of gentrification on long-standing minority communities in urban areas.
SWAN exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, balancing between increasing prosperity and potential displacement, reflecting broader urban demographic and economic trends seen across the United States in the past decade.
