Loading Content...
Demographic Transition in Bellevue Oaks: A Study of Racial Composition and Economic Status
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Bellevue Oaks, a neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi, exhibits a case of demographic transition. As of 2022, it is categorized as having "Low Diversity" with a 71% white majority. The neighborhood has undergone significant demographic shifts over the past decade. The current median income of $77,695 indicates an affluent community. Bellevue Oaks is characterized by historic homes and tree-lined streets, which have attracted upper-middle-class residents.
In 2013, Bellevue Oaks had "Low Diversity" with a 94% white population. By 2022, the white population decreased to 71%, while the black population increased from 0% to 28%. This shift represents a change in the racial composition of the neighborhood. The most significant change occurred between 2019 and 2020, when the black population increased from 10% to 31%, briefly categorizing the neighborhood as "Moderate Diversity".
The demographic shifts correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the overall trend in median income has been positive, rising from $84,714 to $77,695, with a peak of $101,810 in 2021. This suggests that the increasing racial diversity has not led to a decline in the neighborhood's economic status. The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 300-400 residents over the decade.
The trends in Bellevue Oaks are notable when compared to broader trends in Jackson and Mississippi. Jackson is a majority-black city (about 82% as of 2020), making Bellevue Oaks' historical lack of diversity an anomaly. The increasing black population in Bellevue Oaks could be seen as a gradual alignment with the city's overall demographics, albeit at a much higher income level than the city average.
This trend might reflect broader national patterns of increasing suburbanization of black middle-class families and the breakdown of historically segregated neighborhoods. The continued high median income suggests that this integration is occurring primarily among more affluent black families, potentially indicating ongoing economic segregation even as racial integration increases.
The neighborhood's evolution presents a picture of demographic change, challenging narratives about diversity and economic status. It demonstrates how a historically homogeneous, affluent area can undergo significant racial diversification while maintaining its economic status, potentially serving as a model for integration in other high-income communities.
