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Demographic Transition in Chicago Lawn: From Moderate Diversity to Hispanic Majority
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Chicago Lawn, a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, has transformed into a Hispanic Majority area with a significant Black minority. As of 2022, the median income in the community was $37,912, which is below the national average. Chicago Lawn has experienced notable demographic changes over the years.
From 2013 to 2022, Chicago Lawn transitioned from a Moderate Diversity community to a Hispanic Majority area. In 2013, the neighborhood had a Moderate Diversity profile with a Hispanic plurality (68%) and a substantial Black minority (28%). By 2022, it had become a Hispanic Majority community (80%), with the Black population decreasing to 18%. This shift is categorized as a Transitional Community, with the Hispanic population increasing and the Black population declining. The White and Asian populations remained relatively stable but minimal during this period.
The median income in Chicago Lawn increased from $33,955 in 2013 to $37,912 in 2022, a growth of approximately 11.7% over the decade. This growth rate is lower than national income trends, indicating ongoing economic challenges in the neighborhood. The population of Chicago Lawn decreased from 18,172 in 2013 to 15,619 in 2022, a decline of about 14%. This population decrease, combined with the increase in median income, suggests a complex interplay of factors such as gentrification, out-migration of lower-income residents, or improved economic conditions for long-term residents.
The demographic shift in Chicago Lawn aligns with broader trends observed in many urban areas across the United States, where Hispanic populations have been growing rapidly. However, the change in Chicago Lawn is particularly pronounced, with the Hispanic majority increasing by 12 percentage points over a decade.
The economic growth in Chicago Lawn, while positive, appears to be lagging behind national averages. The U.S. median household income grew from $52,250 in 2013 to $70,784 in 2021, an increase of about 35%. Chicago Lawn's more modest growth suggests that the neighborhood may be facing particular economic challenges or may be part of a larger pattern of economic disparity in certain urban areas.
The population decline in Chicago Lawn is noteworthy and could be indicative of broader urban trends such as suburbanization or migration to other cities. This trend, combined with the changing racial composition, suggests that Chicago Lawn is undergoing significant socio-economic changes that may be reshaping the character and needs of the community.
Chicago Lawn exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, both demographically and economically. The shift to a Hispanic Majority community, coupled with modest economic growth and population decline, presents both challenges and opportunities for community development and social cohesion in the coming years.
