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Demographic Shifts in Chestnut Hill Plantation: From White Majority to Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Chestnut Hill Plantation, a neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina, exhibits characteristics of a "White Majority" community, with 59% of its population identifying as white in 2022. The area has experienced demographic shifts over the past decade. The neighborhood's median income of $73,451 in 2022 suggests an upper-middle-class economic status. Chestnut Hill Plantation has historic significance, as it was once part of a larger plantation area dating back to the antebellum period.
Over the past decade, Chestnut Hill Plantation has transitioned from a "Low Diversity" community to one approaching "Moderate Diversity." In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as "White Majority" with 66% of the population identifying as white. By 2022, this percentage decreased to 59%, while the Black population increased from 27% to 31%. The Hispanic population increased from 1% in 2013 to 3% in 2022, while those identifying as two or more races grew from 1% to 5%.
The demographic changes in Chestnut Hill Plantation have occurred alongside fluctuations in median income. From 2013 to 2019, there was a general upward trend in median income, peaking at $90,004 in 2019. There was a significant drop to $72,456 in 2020, likely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The income has since rebounded somewhat but remains volatile, landing at $73,451 in 2022.
As the community has become more diverse, there hasn't been a consistent correlation with income levels. The highest median income years (2017-2019) coincided with a period of increasing diversity, suggesting that the demographic shifts haven't negatively impacted the area's economic status. The population of the neighborhood has seen significant changes, peaking at 7,937 in 2017 but declining to 5,586 by 2022.
The demographic shifts observed in Chestnut Hill Plantation reflect broader trends seen in many suburban areas across the United States. The increasing diversity, particularly the growth in the Black and multiracial populations, aligns with national trends of suburbanization among minority groups and increasing acceptance of multiracial identities. The economic fluctuations, especially the sharp decline in 2020 and subsequent partial recovery, mirror national economic patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the neighborhood's median income remains above the national median, indicating its relative economic resilience.
The population decline in recent years, while the surrounding city of Columbia has generally maintained its population, suggests that Chestnut Hill Plantation might be experiencing unique local factors affecting its residential appeal or development patterns. Chestnut Hill Plantation is evolving from a predominantly white, upper-middle-class suburb to a more diverse community, while largely maintaining its economic status. This transition reflects broader national trends but also presents unique local dynamics that warrant continued observation and analysis.
