Loading Content...
Demographic Shifts in Lakewood Terrace: From Black Plurality to White Plurality
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Lakewood Terrace, a neighborhood in St. Petersburg, Florida, currently exhibits a Moderate Diversity profile with a White Plurality. As of 2022, the community has a population of 1,149 and a median income of $37,811. This neighborhood has undergone significant demographic shifts over the past decade, transitioning from a predominantly Black community to a more diverse area with a growing Hispanic population.
In 2013, Lakewood Terrace was categorized as a Black Plurality community, with 44% of the population identifying as Black. Over the next few years, it transitioned to a Black Majority area, peaking at 62% Black in 2017. However, from 2018 onwards, a significant shift occurred. By 2020, the neighborhood had transformed into a White Plurality area with Moderate Diversity. This transition was marked by a decrease in the Black population percentage (from 61% in 2018 to 39% in 2022) and increases in both White (from 32% to 44%) and Hispanic (from 1% to 14%) populations.
The demographic shifts in Lakewood Terrace correlate with changes in median income. In 2013, when the area was predominantly Black, the median income was $20,498. As the neighborhood transitioned to a more diverse composition, the median income increased. By 2020, coinciding with the shift to a White Plurality, the median income had increased to $45,586. However, there has been a slight decrease in median income since then, settling at $37,811 in 2022.
The population of Lakewood Terrace has fluctuated over the years, decreasing from 1,941 in 2010 to 1,149 in 2022. This population decline, coupled with the demographic and income changes, suggests a complex interplay of factors affecting the neighborhood's composition and economic status.
The demographic shifts observed in Lakewood Terrace align with broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States. Many cities have experienced gentrification and demographic changes in historically minority neighborhoods, often resulting in increased diversity but also raising concerns about displacement of long-term residents.
The economic trajectory of Lakewood Terrace, with its increase in median income, is notable. However, the median income of $37,811 in 2022 still falls below the national median household income, which was around $70,784 in 2021. This suggests that while the neighborhood has seen economic improvement, it still faces economic challenges compared to national averages.
The growing Hispanic population in Lakewood Terrace (from 1% in 2018 to 14% in 2022) reflects a broader trend of increasing Hispanic populations in many U.S. cities, contributing to greater diversity in urban areas.
Lakewood Terrace exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving from a predominantly Black community to a more diverse area with a White Plurality. This demographic evolution has been accompanied by economic changes, highlighting the relationship between racial composition, income levels, and urban development in American cities.
