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Demographic Transition and Racial Composition in Lenoir Woods, Columbia, Missouri
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Lenoir Woods, a neighborhood in Columbia, Missouri, has undergone significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. The area transitioned from a predominantly White community with low diversity to one with moderate diversity, characterized by a White majority and a substantial Hispanic minority. As of 2022, the neighborhood's population consists of 72% White residents and 25% Hispanic residents. This shift in racial composition has been accompanied by notable economic changes.
The demographic transition in Lenoir Woods occurred gradually over the past decade. From 2013 to 2019, the neighborhood maintained its status as a White Majority community with low diversity, with the White population consistently representing over 70% of residents. A significant shift occurred in 2020, transforming the neighborhood into a Transitional Community. The Hispanic population increased from 11% in 2019 to 42% in 2020. Following 2020, the neighborhood stabilized into a Moderate Diversity classification.
The demographic changes in Lenoir Woods correlate with substantial changes in median income. From 2013 to 2015, when the area was predominantly White with low diversity, median incomes ranged from $72,942 to $84,932. As the community began transitioning towards greater diversity, median incomes declined sharply. The most significant decrease occurred between 2017 and 2018, with median income falling from $63,979 to $36,870. By 2022, the median income further decreased to $35,402 as the Hispanic population grew to 25% of the total.
The correlation between increasing diversity and declining median income suggests that the influx of Hispanic residents may be associated with lower-income households. This could be due to factors such as employment opportunities in specific sectors or affordable housing initiatives attracting a more diverse, but lower-income population.
The demographic changes in Lenoir Woods reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban and urban areas. Many U.S. cities have experienced similar transitions, with growing Hispanic populations and shifts towards more diverse community compositions. However, the rapid change in Lenoir Woods, particularly the surge in Hispanic residents from 2019 to 2020, may be attributable to local factors in Columbia, Missouri.
The sharp decline in median income in Lenoir Woods diverges from national trends of gradual income growth over the past decade. This suggests that the neighborhood may be facing particular economic challenges or undergoing a significant socioeconomic transformation that requires further investigation and potentially targeted economic development efforts.
Lenoir Woods has evolved from a Low Diversity, White Majority community with high median incomes to a Moderately Diverse neighborhood with a significant Hispanic minority and substantially lower median incomes. This transition presents opportunities for cultural enrichment and challenges in addressing economic disparities within the community.
