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Demographic Transformation in Wheeling Village: From White to Black Majority (2013-2022)
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Wheeling Village, a neighborhood in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has undergone significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. The community transitioned from a White Majority to a Black Majority within a decade. As of 2022, 65% of the population identifies as Black, with a median income of $29,538, which is lower than the national median.
In 2013, Wheeling Village had a White Majority, with 67% of the population identifying as white. By 2017, it shifted to a Moderate Diversity category, with white (48%), Hispanic (37%), and Black (13%) populations. In 2020, it became a Majority-Minority community, and by 2022, it transitioned to a Black Majority status.
The median income in Wheeling Village fluctuated during this period. In 2013, it was $29,403. It reached its lowest point in 2016 at $19,900, coinciding with an increase in Hispanic population and a decrease in the white population. The income then rose to a peak of $35,217 in 2018 during the period of Moderate Diversity, before settling back to around $29,538 in 2022 as the Black population became the majority.
The demographic shift in Wheeling Village is more extreme than typical national trends. The transition to a Black majority in this neighborhood contrasts with the overall demographics of Winston-Salem, which as of the last census was roughly 45% white, 34% Black, and 15% Hispanic.
The fluctuating income levels in Wheeling Village, ending at a figure well below the national median, highlight the economic vulnerabilities often associated with rapidly changing urban neighborhoods. This pattern of demographic shift coupled with economic instability is seen in many urban areas across the US, particularly in cities grappling with issues of gentrification, disinvestment, and changing industrial bases.
Wheeling Village presents an example of rapid demographic transformation and its potential economic impacts. The shift from a White Majority to a Black Majority community within a decade, coupled with significant income fluctuations, underscores the interplay between race, economics, and urban development. This case study highlights the need for targeted economic development strategies and community support systems in areas experiencing such changes.
