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Demographic Transition and Racial Composition in Innswood, Hattiesburg: A Study of Black Majority Emergence
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Innswood neighborhood in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has undergone significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. In 2022, Innswood was classified as a "Black Majority" community, with 59% of the population identifying as Black. This represents a shift from its earlier classification as a "White Majority" community in 2013, when 63% of residents identified as white. The neighborhood has experienced fluctuations in population and median income over the past decade.
The demographic transition in Innswood occurred in several phases. From 2013 to 2018, the area maintained a "White Majority" status with gradually decreasing percentages. In 2019, it briefly entered a "Moderate Diversity" phase. The year 2020 marked a transition to "Majority-Minority" status, with white residents at 50% and other groups collectively forming the majority. By 2021, Innswood had fully transitioned to a "Black Majority" community, a status it maintained into 2022.
Economic trends in Innswood have shown volatility, with a general downward trend in median income correlating loosely with demographic shifts. Median incomes were highest (around $52,000) from 2013 to 2014 when the area was predominantly white. A sharp decline occurred in 2015, coinciding with the start of more significant demographic changes. The lowest median income ($25,769) was recorded in 2020 and 2022, years that marked the transition to and solidification of the Black majority.
The population of Innswood has fluctuated, with a notable increase from 267 in 2020 to 547 in 2022, coinciding with the shift to a Black majority. This could suggest an influx of new residents, possibly driven by changing housing affordability or other socio-economic factors.
The demographic shift in Innswood appears more dramatic than typical national trends. Many U.S. cities have been experiencing gradual increases in diversity, but the rapid transition from a white majority to a Black majority in less than a decade is unusual. This could be indicative of larger changes in Hattiesburg or Mississippi more broadly, such as shifts in industry, education opportunities, or housing policies that are particularly affecting this neighborhood.
The economic downturn observed in Innswood, with median incomes dropping by more than half over a decade, is more severe than national trends. This suggests that local factors, possibly related to the demographic shift, are significantly impacting the economic wellbeing of residents.
Innswood presents a case study of rapid demographic and economic change. The transition from a white majority to a Black majority community, coupled with significant economic challenges, highlights the complex interplay between racial demographics and economic conditions in urban neighborhoods. Further investigation into local policies, economic opportunities, and community dynamics would be valuable to fully understand the drivers and implications of these changes.
