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Demographic Shifts in Castle Forest: A Study of Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Castle Forest, a neighborhood in San Marcos, Texas, exhibits a demographic profile characterized as a "White Majority" community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the white population comprises 64% of the neighborhood, with a Hispanic presence of 31%. The median income in 2022 was $59,429, below the 2021 national median household income of $70,784. Castle Forest experienced rapid population growth, increasing from 767 in 2010 to 1,213 in 2022, indicating its attractiveness to new residents.
Over the past decade, Castle Forest has undergone significant demographic changes. The neighborhood transitioned from low diversity to moderate diversity. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as "Low Diversity" with whites comprising 65% and Hispanics 33% of the population. By 2022, while still maintaining a "White Majority," the community shifted towards "Moderate Diversity" with a more balanced representation of white (64%) and Hispanic (31%) populations.
Between 2013 and 2020, the neighborhood experienced a period of increasing homogeneity, reaching a peak of "Low Diversity" in 2020 with 86% white population. This trend reversed sharply in 2021-2022, returning to a more diverse composition. The neighborhood saw a brief increase in Asian representation (peaking at 4% in 2016-2017 and 2020) and Black representation (reaching 3% in 2020), but these percentages have since declined.
The median income has fluctuated significantly, peaking at $76,641 in 2017 and dropping to $54,243 in 2021 before slightly recovering in 2022. This volatility could be related to the changing demographic composition. The substantial population growth (67% increase from 2010 to 2022) has not consistently correlated with income growth, suggesting a complex interplay between new residents and economic factors. The sharp decline in median income from 2020 to 2021 (from $59,402 to $54,243) coincides with increased diversity, possibly indicating economic challenges faced by new, more diverse residents.
Castle Forest's demographic shifts somewhat mirror Texas's overall increasing diversity, though the neighborhood has maintained a higher white percentage than the state average (which was about 41% non-Hispanic white in 2020). While Castle Forest's median income has fluctuated, it has generally remained below both the Texas and national medians, suggesting local economic challenges despite population growth. Given San Marcos is home to Texas State University, the neighborhood's demographic and economic shifts might be influenced by changing student populations and university-related economic factors.
Castle Forest represents a "Transitional Community," moving from low to moderate diversity over the past decade. This transition, coupled with significant population growth and income volatility, suggests a neighborhood in flux, potentially influenced by broader regional trends and local factors such as university dynamics. The challenge moving forward will be to ensure economic stability and community cohesion amidst these demographic changes.
