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Demographic Stability and Economic Growth in Oak Island (28465): A Study of Racial Homogeneity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Oak Island (zip code 28465) in North Carolina demonstrates demographic stability with economic changes over the past decade. As of 2022, this community is categorized as "Low Diversity," with a white population consistently comprising over 95% of residents throughout the analyzed period. This racial homogeneity has remained constant, even as the town has experienced economic changes and population growth.
Throughout the period from 2013 to 2022, Oak Island has maintained its status as a "Low Diversity" community. The white population has consistently accounted for 94-99% of the total, indicating a stable racial composition. There have been no significant shifts towards other categories such as "Moderate Diversity" or "Transitional Community." The persistence of this demographic makeup suggests deeply rooted community characteristics and possibly limited external factors driving demographic change.
Minor fluctuations in other racial groups are observed, but they remain statistically insignificant. The Hispanic population has varied between 0-1%, and the Asian population between 0-1% as well. The emergence of a small (2%) "two or more races" category in recent years might hint at the early stages of increased diversity, but it is too small to indicate a significant trend at this point.
Oak Island has experienced substantial economic growth. The median income has risen from $58,301 in 2013 to $77,361 in 2022, representing a 32.7% increase over nine years. This growth outpaces inflation for the same period, indicating real economic gains for the community.
There was a spike in median income to $98,412 in 2021, followed by a decrease to $77,361 in 2022. This fluctuation might be attributed to economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or other localized factors.
The population has grown from 6,738 in 2013 to 8,292 in 2022, a 23% increase. This population growth, coupled with rising incomes, suggests that Oak Island has become an increasingly attractive place to live, possibly due to economic opportunities or quality of life factors.
The demographic stability of Oak Island contrasts with national trends, which have generally shown increasing diversity in many communities across the United States. The town's racial homogeneity is notable given its significant population growth and economic development, which in many other areas tend to correlate with increased diversity.
The economic growth in Oak Island appears to have outpaced national averages, with its 32.7% increase in median income over nine years surpassing typical wage growth rates. This suggests that the town may have benefited from unique local economic factors or development initiatives.
The combination of rapid economic growth and population increase, without corresponding changes in racial demographics, presents a case study. It raises questions about the factors attracting new residents to the area and whether there are specific economic or cultural elements that are particularly appealing to the predominant demographic group.
Oak Island represents an example of a community experiencing significant economic and population growth while maintaining a stable racial composition. This pattern diverges from common trends seen in many growing communities across the United States, making it a subject for further study on the interplay between economic development and demographic change in small town America.
