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Demographic Shifts in Parsons Neighborhood: From White Majority to Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Parsons neighborhood in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, exhibits characteristics of a Transitional Community with a White Majority. As of 2022, the white population comprises 67% of residents, while the Hispanic population has grown to 24%. The median income in 2022 was $46,575, showing growth over the past decade. Parsons has a history rooted in coal mining, which has influenced its community and economic landscape.
Over the past decade, Parsons has transitioned from a Low Diversity community to a Transitional Community with increasing diversity. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as Low Diversity with a white population of 82%. By 2022, the white population decreased to 67%, while the Hispanic population grew from 10% to 24%. This shift indicates a trend towards increasing diversity, driven by Hispanic growth.
The Black population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 3% and 7% throughout the decade. The Asian population has shown a slight increase from 0% to 2%. The emergence of a small but growing two or more races category (2% in 2022) further underscores the neighborhood's increasing diversity.
The median income in Parsons has shown growth, increasing from $37,382 in 2013 to $46,575 in 2022, representing a 24.6% increase over the decade. This growth in income correlates with the demographic shifts, suggesting that the increasing diversity may be linked to economic opportunities attracting new residents.
The population has grown from 3,669 in 2013 to 4,591 in 2022, a 25.1% increase. This population growth, coupled with income increases, indicates a positive economic trend for the neighborhood.
The demographic shifts in Parsons reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban and suburban areas. The growth of the Hispanic population aligns with national patterns of Hispanic population growth in many U.S. cities and towns.
The income growth in Parsons appears to be slightly below the national average. The U.S. median household income grew by about 30% between 2013 and 2022, compared to Parsons' 24.6% growth. This suggests that while the neighborhood is experiencing economic improvement, it may be lagging slightly behind national economic trends.
The transition from Low Diversity to a Transitional Community status is significant and may be indicative of broader changes in the region's economy and demographics. This shift could be attributed to factors such as changing job markets, affordable housing opportunities, or the area's evolving cultural landscape.
Parsons exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving towards greater diversity while experiencing moderate economic growth. These changes are likely to have impacts on local culture, community dynamics, and potentially on future economic development strategies for the area.
