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Demographic Shifts in Second Avenue, Albany: From Black Majority to Diverse Community
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Second Avenue in Albany, New York, has undergone significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. The neighborhood transitioned from a Black Majority community to a more diverse area. In 2022, the population was 2,324 with a median income of $55,243.
From 2013 to 2016, the Black population increased from 61% to 72%. However, starting in 2019, the neighborhood began diversifying. By 2020, the area became Majority-Minority, with the Black population at 31% and the White population at 39%. In 2021, the neighborhood achieved Moderate Diversity with Black (34%), White (33%), and Two or More Races (19%) groups having significant representation.
The most recent data from 2022 shows a return to a Black Plurality (49%), but maintains diversity with White (33%) and Two or More Races (12%) populations. These demographic shifts correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2015, as the Black majority strengthened, the median income decreased from $44,068 to $29,933.
As the neighborhood began diversifying from 2019 onwards, there was a substantial increase in median income, rising from $48,113 in 2019 to $55,243 in 2022. The population also fluctuated, increasing from 1,186 in 2019 to 2,324 in 2022, coinciding with the period of increased diversity and rising incomes.
The trend observed in Second Avenue aligns with broader patterns of urban gentrification and diversification seen in many U.S. cities. The initial decrease in median income followed by a sharp increase as the area diversified is reminiscent of the early and later stages of neighborhood change often associated with gentrification processes.
The increase in the Two or More Races category from 2% in 2013 to 12% in 2022 reflects national trends of increasing multiracial identification. The rapid population growth from 2019 to 2022 is noteworthy and may indicate a period of intensive development or redevelopment in the neighborhood.
Second Avenue has transformed from a predominantly Black neighborhood with lower median incomes to a more diverse community with significantly higher incomes over the past decade. This transition reflects complex socio-economic dynamics, potentially including gentrification, changing housing preferences, and broader demographic shifts occurring in many urban areas across the United States.
