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Demographic Shifts and Racial Diversity in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, exhibits a distinct demographic composition. As of 2022, this area is classified as a "Majority-Minority" community with a Black Plurality, reflecting broader demographic trends in Atlanta. This neighborhood is centered around one of the world's busiest airports, which significantly influences its demographics and economic characteristics.
Over the past decade, the Hartsfield-Jackson neighborhood has undergone significant demographic transitions. From 2013 to 2016, the area was a "White Majority" community, with white residents comprising 60% of the population in 2013, decreasing to 41% by 2016. Between 2017 and 2019, the area shifted towards "Moderate Diversity," with Black and White populations each representing significant portions, though neither achieving majority status. From 2020 to 2022, the neighborhood transitioned to a "Majority-Minority" status with a "Black Plurality." By 2022, the Black population represented 45% of residents, while the White population decreased to 25%.
The years 2020-2022 saw an increase in residents identifying as two or more races and the emergence of an Asian population, indicating a trend towards "High Diversity." These shifts likely reflect changing employment patterns at the airport and surrounding businesses, as well as broader demographic changes in the Atlanta metro area.
The median income in the neighborhood has fluctuated but generally increased over the decade. From 2013 to 2016, as the area transitioned from White Majority to Moderate Diversity, median income rose from $75,842 to $83,059. During the period of Moderate Diversity from 2017 to 2019, median income slightly decreased to $79,281. With the shift to Majority-Minority status from 2020 to 2022, median income rebounded, reaching $86,309 in 2022. These economic trends suggest that the increasing diversity of the neighborhood has not negatively impacted income levels. In fact, the highest median income coincides with the period of greatest racial diversity.
The demographic shifts in the Hartsfield-Jackson neighborhood mirror broader trends in the Atlanta metropolitan area, which has been experiencing increasing diversity and a growing Black middle class. However, the neighborhood's unique status as an airport community likely contributes to its higher-than-average median income and more rapid demographic changes compared to typical residential areas.
The population fluctuations, ranging from 279 in 2010 to a peak of 501 in 2016, before settling at 305 in 2022, reflect the transient nature of airport-adjacent communities. These changes may be influenced by factors such as airport expansion projects, changes in airline industry employment, and broader economic trends affecting air travel.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport neighborhood exemplifies a "Transitional Community," evolving from a White Majority area to a diverse, Majority-Minority neighborhood with a strong economic profile. This transition reflects both local factors related to the airport's influence and broader demographic shifts in the Atlanta region, making it a microcosm of urban demographic evolution in the American South.
