Demographic Shifts in Fort Cheatem: From Black Majority to Increasing Hispanic Presence
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
Fort Cheatem, a neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee, exhibits a complex demographic landscape categorized as a "Majority-Minority" community with a "Black Majority." As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 1,820 and a median income of $18,494. Fort Cheatem has undergone significant demographic shifts over the past decade, transitioning from a predominantly Black community to one with increasing Hispanic representation, indicative of its status as a "Transitional Community."
From 2013 to 2022, Fort Cheatem has maintained its status as a "Black Majority" community, but with notable changes. The Black majority has decreased from 72% in 2013 to 66% in 2022, still maintaining a clear majority but showing a gradual decline. The most significant change is the rise of the Hispanic population, from 8% in 2013 to 26% in 2022, indicating a strong "Transitional Community" trend. There has been a dramatic decrease in the White population, from 19% in 2013 to just 3% in 2022. While not reaching "High Diversity" levels, the neighborhood has moved from "Low Diversity" to "Moderate Diversity" over the decade.
The economic landscape of Fort Cheatem has shown improvement, albeit with fluctuations. There has been an overall increase in median income from $13,041 in 2013 to $18,494 in 2022, representing a 41.8% growth over the decade. The population has grown from 1,446 in 2013 to 1,820 in 2022, a 25.9% increase, suggesting the neighborhood is attracting new residents. Despite the overall upward trend, there have been fluctuations, with a peak median income of $21,885 in 2021 before a decrease in 2022.
The significant increase in the Hispanic population in Fort Cheatem aligns with broader national trends of growing Hispanic communities in many urban areas across the United States. The median income in Fort Cheatem, despite its growth, remains well below the national median household income, indicating that this is likely a lower-income neighborhood within Chattanooga. The decline in the White population percentage might reflect broader patterns of demographic change in urban areas, where some neighborhoods experience "White flight" or gentrification-induced displacement. The neighborhood's transition towards greater diversity, particularly with the rise in the Hispanic population, may be part of larger demographic shifts occurring in many mid-sized American cities.
Fort Cheatem exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, maintaining its Black majority while becoming increasingly diverse, primarily due to Hispanic population growth. This demographic shift has occurred alongside modest economic improvements, though the area still faces economic challenges. These changes likely bring both opportunities and challenges for community cohesion, local services, and economic development in the years to come.
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