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Demographic Shifts in Gentilly Woods: A Study of Racial Composition and Population Growth
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Gentilly Woods, a neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana, is categorized as a "Black Majority" community with an emerging trend towards increased diversity. As of 2022, the neighborhood's population is 4,006, with a median income of $39,804. Gentilly Woods has shown growth in the years following Hurricane Katrina, which impacted New Orleans in 2005. This is evident in the population increase from 1,545 in 2010 to its current level.
Over the past decade, Gentilly Woods has maintained its status as a "Black Majority" community, but with notable changes. The percentage of Black residents has decreased from 77% in 2013 to 65% in 2022. The Hispanic population has increased from 2% in 2013 to 9% in 2022. The white population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 14% and 20% over the decade. The increase in residents identifying as two or more races, from 0% in 2013 to 3% in 2022, further supports the trend towards greater diversity.
The economic landscape of Gentilly Woods has shown fluctuations over the past decade. Median income has varied from a low of $27,379 in 2013 to a high of $44,841 in 2021, before settling at $39,804 in 2022. The neighborhood has seen substantial population growth, from 1,545 in 2010 to 4,006 in 2022. The increase in diversity appears to correlate with periods of higher median income.
Gentilly Woods' demographic shifts reflect broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States. The increasing diversity in this historically Black-majority neighborhood aligns with national trends of minority populations moving to suburban areas. The significant population growth since 2010 is likely tied to New Orleans' broader recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. The volatility in median income may reflect both the challenges and opportunities present in a recovering urban area, as well as the changing composition of the neighborhood's workforce.
Gentilly Woods exemplifies a community in transition, moving from a predominantly Black neighborhood towards a more diverse composition while experiencing economic fluctuations. This shift, occurring within the context of post-Katrina recovery, presents both opportunities and challenges for community cohesion and economic development. The neighborhood's evolution mirrors broader national trends of increasing suburban diversity and the complex interplay between demographic changes and economic factors in urban areas.
