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Demographic Shifts in Earlewood: A Study of Racial Composition from 2013 to 2022
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Earlewood, a neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina, has experienced significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. The population as of 2022 was 3,315 with a median income of $57,162. The neighborhood transitioned from a moderately diverse community to a majority-minority area over this period.
From 2013 to 2020, Earlewood shifted from having a nearly equal distribution of White (50%) and Black (44%) residents to a Black majority (53%) by 2020. This trend continued into 2021, with the Black population reaching 54%. However, data from 2022 indicates a slight reversal, with the Black population decreasing to 47% and the White population increasing to 45%.
The Asian population in Earlewood increased gradually from 2% in 2013 to 3% in 2022, while the Hispanic population remained relatively constant at 1-2% throughout the study period.
Economic trends in Earlewood coincided with these demographic shifts. Median income remained relatively stagnant from 2013 to 2019, decreasing slightly from $45,317 to $46,275. In 2020, there was a significant increase in median income to $57,320, which corresponded with the peak of Black majority in the neighborhood. The median income remained high at $57,162 in 2022, despite the shift back towards a more balanced racial composition.
The demographic changes in Earlewood reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. However, the recent reversal towards a more balanced racial composition is notable and may indicate gentrification or changing housing preferences. The economic resilience of the neighborhood, particularly the income increase in 2020 despite the global pandemic, suggests that Earlewood has become an increasingly desirable area for middle to upper-middle-class residents of various racial backgrounds.
Earlewood's transition from moderate diversity through Black majority to its current majority-minority status, combined with economic improvements, illustrates the dynamic nature of this urban neighborhood. These demographic and economic changes likely present both opportunities and challenges for community cohesion and local policy-making.
