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Demographic Shifts in Independence Neighborhood, Tulsa: From White Plurality to Hispanic Plurality
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Independence neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has undergone significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. In 2022, the neighborhood had a population of 1,825 and an estimated 699 housing units. The community transitioned from having a White plurality to a Hispanic plurality during this period.
The neighborhood's demographic composition shifted notably over the decade. In 2013, Independence was categorized as having Moderate Diversity with a White Plurality, with 41% White, 28% Black, and 18% Hispanic residents. From 2014 to 2017, the community entered a transitional phase, characterized by a steady increase in the Hispanic population and decreases in the White and Black populations.
By 2018, the Hispanic population became the largest group at 47%, marking a shift to a Hispanic Plurality. This trend continued through 2022, with Hispanics comprising 35% of the population. Throughout the entire period, Independence maintained its Majority-Minority status, with the combined minority populations consistently exceeding 50%.
The demographic shifts correlated with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2015, as the neighborhood began its transition, median income dropped from $30,667 to $25,428. During the peak of the Hispanic population increase from 2016 to 2019, median income remained relatively stable, ranging from $26,000 to $30,000. From 2020 to 2022, coinciding with a slight decrease in the Hispanic percentage and an increase in the Native American population, median income rose significantly to $38,676 in 2022.
The demographic shift in Independence reflects broader national trends of increasing Hispanic populations in urban areas. The rapid nature of this change, from 18% Hispanic in 2013 to 35% in 2022, is more pronounced than in many other areas. The recent income surge may indicate changing economic opportunities or gentrification processes beginning to take hold in the neighborhood.
The increase in the Native American population from 0% in 2013 to 8% in 2022 is significant and unusual, potentially reflecting broader movements or policy changes affecting Native American communities in Oklahoma.
This analysis reveals a neighborhood in flux, with rapid demographic changes potentially influencing and being influenced by economic factors. The transition to a Hispanic Plurality community with increasing diversity among other groups suggests that Independence is evolving into a more multicultural area.
