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Demographic Shifts in Newport's North End: From White Majority to Moderate Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The North End neighborhood of Newport, Rhode Island, currently exhibits Moderate Diversity with a White Plurality. As of 2022, the white population comprises 56% of the community, while Black and Hispanic populations represent 14% and 16% respectively. The neighborhood has undergone significant demographic changes over the past decade, accompanied by fluctuations in median income. The North End features a combination of historic and modern architecture, reflecting its transition from a working-class area to a more diverse community.
Over the past decade, the North End has shifted from a White Majority community to one of Moderate Diversity with a White Plurality. In 2013, the neighborhood was classified as having a White Majority, with 69% of the population identifying as white. By 2022, this percentage had decreased to 56%, no longer constituting a majority. The community has experienced a steady increase in its Black and Hispanic populations. The Black population grew from 8% in 2013 to 14% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 13% to 16% over the same period. This shift indicates a Transitional Community status, with increasing diversity becoming a notable trend.
The Asian population has also grown, albeit more modestly, from 3% in 2013 to 5% in 2020, before slightly decreasing to 2% in 2022. The proportion of residents identifying as two or more races has remained relatively stable, around 6-7% throughout the decade.
The median income in the North End has shown considerable variability over the years. From 2013 to 2016, there was a significant decline in median income from $49,230 to $37,314. This period coincided with the initial stages of increasing diversity in the neighborhood. From 2017 onwards, there has been a general upward trend in median income, reaching a peak of $64,719 in 2021 before declining to $52,347 in 2022. This recent increase in median income correlates with the stabilization of the demographic composition, suggesting that the neighborhood may have adapted to its newfound diversity and potentially benefited from it economically.
The population of the North End has grown steadily over the decade, from 7,460 in 2010 to 8,286 in 2022, indicating that the neighborhood has become increasingly attractive to new residents despite its changing demographics. The demographic shifts observed in Newport's North End mirror broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. Many cities across the United States have experienced similar transitions from White Majority to more diverse compositions over the past decade.
The economic fluctuations, particularly the dip in median income in the mid-2010s followed by a recovery, may reflect broader economic trends such as the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recovery. However, the North End's recent economic growth, coinciding with increased diversity, suggests that the neighborhood may be benefiting from the economic and cultural contributions of its new residents.
The North End of Newport has undergone a significant demographic transformation over the past decade, evolving from a White Majority community to one of Moderate Diversity with a White Plurality. This transition has been accompanied by economic fluctuations, but recent trends suggest a positive correlation between increasing diversity and economic growth. As the neighborhood continues to evolve, it will be important to observe how these demographic and economic trends shape its character and community dynamics in the future.
