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Demographic Shifts in MLK 183 Neighborhood: From Hispanic Majority to Increasing Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The MLK 183 neighborhood in Austin, Texas, has transitioned from a Majority-Minority community with a Hispanic Majority to one with a Hispanic Plurality. As of 2022, the neighborhood population is 12,951 with a median income of $47,021. This area is historically significant in Austin's African American community, named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and located near Huston-Tillotson University.
Over the past decade, MLK 183 has experienced significant demographic changes. In 2013, the neighborhood was a Majority-Minority area with a Hispanic Majority (51%) and a substantial Black population (37%). By 2022, while remaining Majority-Minority, the community shifted to a Hispanic Plurality (45%) with increased diversity. The Black population decreased to 23%, while the White population increased from 11% to 26%.
This demographic shift indicates a Transitional Community, moving from a more segregated demographic composition towards increased diversity. The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races increased from 2% to 4%, further supporting this trend of diversification.
The median income in MLK 183 has grown from $35,279 in 2013 to $47,021 in 2022, an increase of approximately 33%. This economic improvement correlates with the changing racial composition, particularly the increase in White residents. The neighborhood experienced an income spike in 2021 ($56,647) before a decrease in 2022, potentially indicating gentrification pressures followed by a market correction or impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Population figures fluctuated over the decade, peaking at 15,551 in 2015 before declining to 12,951 in 2022. This population decrease, combined with rising incomes and changing demographics, suggests a possible displacement of lower-income residents, often associated with gentrification processes.
The demographic shifts in MLK 183 reflect broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States, where historically minority neighborhoods near city centers experience an influx of White residents and rising property values. This process often leads to the displacement of long-term residents and changes in the neighborhood's cultural character.
The economic growth in MLK 183, while substantial, still leaves the neighborhood below Austin's overall median household income ($75,752 in 2021). This disparity highlights ongoing economic challenges despite the area's development.
The neighborhood's transition towards greater diversity, particularly the growth in multiracial identification, aligns with national trends. The U.S. Census Bureau reported a 276% increase in the multiracial population between 2010 and 2020, reflecting growing racial complexity in American communities.
MLK 183 exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving from a predominantly minority enclave to a more diverse but potentially gentrifying area. These changes bring both opportunities for economic growth and challenges related to maintaining community cohesion and affordability for long-term residents.
