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Demographic Stability in Raritan, Illinois: A Predominantly White Community
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Raritan in Illinois represents a case study in demographic stability within a small community setting. As of 2022, with a population of 18 people, this village is categorized as "Low Diversity." The community is predominantly white, with 94% of the population identifying as such, indicating a homogeneous racial composition.
Over the past decade, Raritan has maintained its status as a "Low Diversity" community. The white population has remained above 85% throughout the period from 2013 to 2022. There was a slight decrease in the white population percentage from 96% in 2017 to 87% in 2021, but it increased to 94% in 2022. This suggests a stable racial composition with minimal change.
The Hispanic group appeared in the statistics from 2018 to 2021 at a consistent 4% of the population. However, this group is not represented in the 2022 data, which could be due to the small population size where the departure of one individual can significantly alter percentages.
The median income in Raritan has shown fluctuation over the years. From 2013 to 2022, there was an overall upward trend, with the median income rising from $51,323 in 2013 to $64,207 in 2022. There was a significant drop in 2016 to $43,874, followed by a recovery and then an increase to $76,102 in 2021, before decreasing again in 2022.
The village's population has declined from 33 in 2010 to 18 in 2022, a trend common in many small, rural American communities. This population decrease, coupled with income volatility, suggests challenges in maintaining economic stability and retaining residents.
Based on observed trends, Raritan will likely continue to be categorized as a "Low Diversity" community in the near future. The consistent racial homogeneity over the past decade, combined with the small and declining population, suggests that significant demographic shifts are unlikely without major external factors.
Economically, the village may continue to experience income volatility due to its small size. However, if the overall upward trend in median income continues, it could potentially attract new residents, which might slowly introduce more diversity.
The most likely scenario is that Raritan will maintain its current demographic profile as a "Low Diversity" community with a predominantly white population, while continuing to face challenges related to population decline and economic stability typical of very small, rural American communities.
