Loading Content...
Demographic Shifts in Tuscaloosa-Lakewood: From Moderate Diversity to White Majority
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Tuscaloosa-Lakewood, a neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina, has experienced significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. The area transitioned from a moderately diverse community to one with a White majority. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 1,604 and a median income of $61,772.
In 2013, Tuscaloosa-Lakewood exhibited moderate diversity, with Black residents comprising 39% of the population and White residents at 38%. The neighborhood maintained this diversity status for several years, with balanced representation of Black and White residents, along with significant Hispanic and Asian populations.
A notable shift began around 2018 when the community transitioned to a White plurality (56%). This trend continued, leading to the current White majority status in 2022, with White residents making up 68% of the population. The Hispanic population decreased from 11% in 2013 to 1% in 2022, while the Asian population increased from 4% to 7%. The Black population decreased from 39% in 2013 to 11% in 2022.
The demographic shifts in Tuscaloosa-Lakewood have been accompanied by economic changes. The median income fluctuated over the decade, with a general downward trend from 2013 ($58,263) to 2019 ($44,167). There was a significant increase in 2020 and 2021, with median incomes reaching $126,092 and $120,238 respectively, before settling at $61,772 in 2022.
The economic volatility coincides with the demographic changes, suggesting a potential relationship between the two. The sharp increase in median income in 2020-2021 correlates with the accelerated shift towards a White majority, possibly indicating an influx of higher-income residents changing the neighborhood's composition.
The demographic changes in Tuscaloosa-Lakewood reflect broader trends of gentrification seen in many urban areas across the United States. The rapid shift from a diverse community to a White majority, coupled with significant income fluctuations, suggests a pattern of neighborhood transformation that may be displacing long-term residents.
This trend is noteworthy in the context of Durham, a city known for its historically diverse population and strong African American community. The changes in Tuscaloosa-Lakewood may be part of a larger pattern of urban development and demographic shift occurring in Durham and similar mid-sized cities across the country.
The economic volatility, especially the dramatic income spike in 2020-2021, is unusual and may reflect broader economic trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic or specific local developments that attracted high-income residents to the area.
Tuscaloosa-Lakewood has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, evolving from a moderately diverse community to a White majority neighborhood with higher median incomes. This change represents a notable shift in the local demographic and economic landscape, potentially reflecting broader urban development trends and raising questions about community dynamics, housing affordability, and the long-term implications for neighborhood diversity and character.
