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Demographic Shifts in West Hill: A Study of Racial Composition and Economic Trends
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
West Hill, a neighborhood in Mount Vernon, Washington, is characterized as a White Majority community with Moderate Diversity as of 2022. The white population constitutes 61% of residents, while the Hispanic population represents 28%. Over the past decade, the neighborhood has experienced significant demographic and economic changes, reflecting broader trends of increasing diversity and economic fluctuations. West Hill is situated near the historic downtown area of Mount Vernon and offers views of the Skagit Valley.
In the past decade, West Hill has transitioned from a more homogeneous White Majority community to one with increasing diversity. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as White Majority with 62% white residents. By 2018, it had shifted to a Majority-Minority status, with the white population decreasing to 49% and the Hispanic population increasing to 39%. This trend reversed slightly in recent years, returning to a White Majority status by 2022, albeit with a more diverse composition than a decade earlier.
The Hispanic population has shown the most significant growth, increasing from 29% in 2013 to a peak of 39% in 2018-2019, before settling at 28% in 2022. This fluctuation suggests a Transitional Community dynamic, with periods of rapid demographic change followed by slight reversals. The Asian population has remained relatively stable, ranging from 3-5% throughout the decade, while the Black population has shown a slight increase from 1% to 2% in most recent years.
The demographic shifts in West Hill correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2016, as the community became more diverse, the median income decreased from $49,309 to $42,041. This period coincided with the increase in the Hispanic population and decrease in the white population. From 2017 onwards, as the community maintained its diverse character but began to shift back towards a White Majority, median income saw an upward trend. By 2022, the median income had risen to $60,023, an increase from its low point in 2015-2016.
The population of West Hill has fluctuated, peaking at 5,314 in 2016 and declining to 3,937 by 2022. This population decrease coincided with the period of increasing median income, suggesting possible gentrification or changing housing dynamics in the area.
The demographic changes in West Hill mirror broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban and urban areas. The growth of the Hispanic population reflects patterns seen in many parts of the United States, especially in the Western states. The economic trajectory of West Hill, with its recent upward trend in median income, differs from national averages, which have seen more modest growth. This could indicate that Mount Vernon, and West Hill in particular, may be experiencing localized economic factors driving this growth.
The fluctuation between Majority-Minority status and White Majority over the decade highlights the dynamic nature of demographic change in American communities. It underscores the complexity of these transitions and suggests that West Hill may continue to experience demographic shifts in the coming years as it adjusts to changing economic and social factors.
