Loading Content...
Demographic Shifts in Oakwood Manor: A White Majority Neighborhood with Increasing Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
United States Census Bureau: American Community Survey Data (ACS)
Oakwood Manor, a neighborhood in Sarasota, Florida, exhibits characteristics of a White Majority community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the white population constitutes 73% of the residents, with a presence of Black (10%) and Hispanic (11%) populations. The neighborhood's median income of $39,539 in 2022 suggests a working-class to lower-middle-class economic profile. Oakwood Manor has seen fluctuations in its population over the past decade, indicating a dynamic community.
Over the past decade, Oakwood Manor has maintained its status as a White Majority community, but with changes in its diversity profile. In 2013, the neighborhood showed low diversity with a white population of 60% and a Hispanic presence of 37%. By 2022, the community had transitioned to moderate diversity, with the white population increasing to 73% and more balanced representation among other groups.
The Hispanic population decreased from 37% in 2013 to 11% in 2022, while the Black population increased from 1% to 10% during the same period. This shift suggests a potential displacement of the Hispanic community and an influx of Black residents. The emergence of a "Two or More Races" category (6% in 2022) indicates a trend towards increasing diversity and potentially more interracial families in the area.
The median income in Oakwood Manor has shown an upward trend, rising from $28,615 in 2013 to $39,539 in 2022, representing a 38% increase. This economic improvement correlates with the demographic shifts, particularly the increase in the white population percentage and the growth of the Black community. The peak median income of $43,773 was recorded in 2021, coinciding with the highest percentage of Black residents (11%) and a significant multiracial presence (6%).
The population has fluctuated over the years, with a low of 1,620 in 2014 and a high of 2,061 in 2018. These fluctuations could be indicative of changing housing availability, economic opportunities, or other factors affecting residential patterns.
The demographic shifts in Oakwood Manor reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban and urban areas. The growth in the Black population and the emergence of a multiracial category align with national patterns of increasing racial diversity in traditionally white-majority areas. The decrease in the Hispanic population contrasts with national trends of growing Hispanic communities in many urban areas.
The income growth in Oakwood Manor appears to be slower than national averages. The U.S. median household income grew by about 10% between 2018 and 2022, adjusted for inflation, while Oakwood Manor's growth was more modest during this period.
Oakwood Manor represents a community in transition, moving from low to moderate diversity while maintaining a White Majority status. The economic improvements and demographic shifts suggest a changing neighborhood character, potentially driven by broader urban development trends and changing residential preferences in the Sarasota area.
