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Demographic Stability and Economic Fluctuations in West Elsdon: A Hispanic Majority Neighborhood (2013-2022)
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
West Elsdon, a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, is characterized as a Racial Majority community with a predominant Hispanic population. As of 2022, the Hispanic population constitutes 81% of the neighborhood's residents. The median income in 2022 was $53,808, which represents a slight increase from the previous year but remains below the peak of $63,821 recorded in 2017. West Elsdon is notable for its strong community ties and a combination of residential and commercial areas, with its proximity to Midway International Airport influencing local economic activities and development.
Over the past decade, West Elsdon has maintained its status as a Hispanic Majority neighborhood. The Hispanic population has remained relatively constant, ranging from 79% in 2013 to 83% in 2016, before settling at 81% in 2022. This consistency indicates a well-established Hispanic community with strong cultural foundations.
While the neighborhood has not transitioned between major diversity categories, subtle shifts have occurred within its racial composition. The Asian population has shown a slight increase from 1% in 2013 to 4% in 2022. The White population has experienced minor fluctuations, decreasing from 18% in 2013 to 14% in 2022. The Black resident population has maintained a marginal presence, consistently around 1-2% throughout the decade. These changes suggest a trend towards slightly increased diversity, albeit still within the Hispanic Majority framework.
The median income in West Elsdon has exhibited notable fluctuations over the past decade. There was a steady increase from $55,030 in 2013 to $63,821 in 2017. This was followed by a decline in 2018 to $59,886, with a subsequent recovery in 2019 to $62,347. A significant drop occurred in 2020 to $53,646, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a recovery in 2021 to $63,297, followed by another decline in 2022 to $53,808. These economic trends do not show a clear correlation with the subtle demographic shifts.
The demographic composition of West Elsdon reflects broader trends in Chicago, which has experienced an increase in its Hispanic population over recent decades. However, West Elsdon's 81% Hispanic majority is significantly higher than the city-wide average, which was approximately 29% Hispanic as of the 2020 census. The economic fluctuations in West Elsdon align with national trends to some extent, particularly the downturn in 2020 due to the pandemic. However, the neighborhood's median income has generally remained below the national median income, which was $70,784 in 2021.
The stability of the Hispanic majority in West Elsdon, despite subtle increases in diversity, suggests a strong, established community that has maintained its cultural identity while slowly integrating other groups. This trend differs from some other urban neighborhoods that may have experienced more rapid demographic shifts or gentrification. West Elsdon represents a stable Hispanic Majority community that has experienced minor demographic shifts and significant economic fluctuations over the past decade. Its strong cultural identity has likely played a role in maintaining community cohesion through these changes, while also slowly accommodating increasing diversity.
