Loading Content...
Demographic Shifts and Racial Diversity in Old Greensboro, Arkansas: A Study of Neighborhood Transition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Old Greensboro, a neighborhood in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is classified as a Moderate Diversity community with a White Majority as of 2022. The white population comprises 59% of residents, while Black residents account for 20% and Other races represent 11%. The neighborhood's median income in 2022 is $36,488, which is below the national average. Old Greensboro has experienced significant population fluctuations over the past decade.
Over the past decade, Old Greensboro has undergone a transformation in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as having Low Diversity with a strong White Majority (76%). By 2016, it had transitioned to a Moderate Diversity community, with the white population decreasing to 54% and the Black population increasing to 30%. This shift represents a significant change in the neighborhood's demographic makeup.
From 2016 to 2022, the community maintained its Moderate Diversity status, but with fluctuations in the proportions of different racial groups. The Black population peaked at 30% in 2016 and then gradually decreased to 20% by 2022. There was an increase in the "Other" and "Two or More Races" categories, rising from negligible percentages in 2013 to 11% and 9% respectively in 2022. This trend suggests that Old Greensboro is becoming a Transitional Community, with increasing diversity and a more complex racial makeup.
The demographic shifts in Old Greensboro have occurred alongside fluctuations in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the median income showed an overall slight increase from $36,058 to $36,488, but with significant variations in between. There was a peak in median income in 2017 at $42,119, coinciding with a period of relative stability in the racial composition (54% White, 29% Black). However, this economic improvement was not sustained, and incomes have since declined.
The population of Old Greensboro has fluctuated considerably, from a low of 739 in 2013 to a high of 1,492 in 2018, before settling at 1,390 in 2022. These population changes, coupled with the evolving racial composition, suggest a neighborhood in flux, potentially influenced by economic opportunities or challenges, housing developments, or broader socio-economic factors in the Jonesboro area.
The demographic changes in Old Greensboro reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in many American communities. The specific pattern of change from a predominantly white community to one with significant Black and growing multiracial populations is more pronounced than national averages. The economic challenges faced by the neighborhood, as evidenced by the relatively low and fluctuating median income, are consistent with trends seen in many transitioning urban neighborhoods across the United States.
The rapid increase in the "Other" and "Two or More Races" categories is noteworthy, aligning with national trends of growing multiracial identification. This shift could be indicative of changing social attitudes towards racial identity or increased interracial relationships and families in the area.
Old Greensboro presents a case study of a neighborhood in transition, moving from Low Diversity to Moderate Diversity with potential for further diversification. The economic challenges faced by the community, coupled with its changing demographic makeup, suggest a need for targeted economic development strategies and community-building initiatives to ensure equitable growth and stability for all residents.
