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Demographic Shifts in Tar River: From Low to Moderate Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Tar River neighborhood in Greenville, North Carolina, is a White Majority community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the white population comprises 63% of residents, with Black (24%) and Hispanic (7%) populations. The neighborhood has experienced demographic shifts and economic fluctuations over the past decade. Tar River is proximate to East Carolina University, influencing its demographic makeup and economic characteristics.
Over the past decade, Tar River has transitioned from a Low Diversity community to one with Moderate Diversity. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as Low Diversity, with the white population at 69% and two other groups (Black at 21% and Hispanic at 6%) having significant representation. By 2022, while maintaining a White Majority, the community has seen an increase in diversity. The white population decreased from 69% to 63%. The Black population increased from 21% to 24%. The Hispanic population grew from 6% to 7%. The Asian and Two or More Races categories also saw modest increases.
The median income in Tar River has shown fluctuations over the past decade. From 2013 to 2019, median income remained stable, around $18,000-$19,000. An increase occurred in 2020 and 2021, with median income rising to $24,737 and $26,578 respectively. In 2022, it decreased to $21,693, though still higher than pre-2020 levels.
The trends observed in Tar River align with broader national patterns of increasing diversity in many urban and suburban areas. The presence of a major university likely contributes to the neighborhood's diversity and relatively low median income compared to national averages, as student populations often have lower reported incomes.
The economic volatility seen in recent years, particularly the sharp increase and subsequent decrease in median income, may reflect the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Many university towns experienced significant economic shifts during this period due to changes in student housing patterns and local business operations.
Tar River exemplifies a Transitional Community, evolving from Low Diversity to Moderate Diversity over the past decade. This demographic shift has been accompanied by economic changes, reflecting the dynamic nature of university-adjacent neighborhoods and their susceptibility to both local and national socio-economic trends.
