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Demographic Stability and Economic Volatility in Virden: A Predominantly Black Neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Virden neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a Black Majority comprising 96% of the population as of 2022. This neighborhood has maintained a high percentage of Black residents over the past decade, indicating a stable racial composition. Economically, Virden has experienced fluctuations in median income, with the most recent data showing a median income of $27,026 in 2022, a decrease from its peak of $33,588 in 2017.
Throughout the analyzed period (2013-2022), Virden has consistently fallen under the Low Diversity category with a strong Black Majority. The percentage of Black residents has remained stable, ranging from 93% to 97%. There have been no significant transitions between diversity categories, indicating a consistent racial composition in the neighborhood.
The White population has shown slight fluctuations, peaking at 6% in 2019 before decreasing to 3% in 2022. The emergence of a small percentage (1%) of residents identifying as two or more races in recent years (2021-2022) suggests a minor trend towards increased diversity, albeit on a small scale.
The median income in Virden has shown volatility over the past decade. From 2013 to 2017, there was an increase in median income, rising from $24,272 to $33,588. This trend reversed after 2017, with income levels declining to $22,464 in 2021 before recovering to $27,026 in 2022. These economic fluctuations do not appear to have significantly impacted the racial composition of the neighborhood, given the stability of the Black Majority.
The demographic stability of Virden contrasts with national trends, where many urban areas have experienced increasing diversity over the past decade. The persistence of a Black Majority in Virden at 96% may reflect historical patterns of segregation in Southern cities like Jackson.
The economic challenges faced by Virden, as evidenced by the volatile and generally low median income, are consistent with trends in many predominantly Black neighborhoods across the United States. The median income in Virden ($27,026 in 2022) is below the national median household income, which was approximately $70,784 in 2021.
The slight increase in racial diversity aligns with national trends towards increasing multiracial identification, though on a smaller scale in Virden compared to national averages.
Virden presents a picture of demographic stability amidst economic volatility. The neighborhood has maintained its character as a predominantly Black community, while facing ongoing economic challenges that mirror broader issues of economic disparity often seen in similar communities across the United States. The recent minor increases in diversity may indicate the beginning of subtle demographic shifts that warrant continued observation in the coming years.
