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Demographic Transition in Cooper Grant: From Black Majority to White Plurality
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Cooper Grant, a neighborhood in Camden, New Jersey, currently exhibits a "Moderate Diversity" demographic profile with a White plurality. As of 2022, the neighborhood's population is 1,532, with a median income of $48,816. Cooper Grant is home to Rutgers University-Camden, which likely influences its demographic makeup and economic characteristics.
Over the past decade, Cooper Grant has undergone significant demographic changes. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as having a "Black Majority" with 50% of the population being Black. By 2022, it transitioned to a "Moderate Diversity" classification with a White plurality (42%). This shift represents a notable change in the neighborhood's racial composition.
The Hispanic population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 20-28% throughout the decade. The Asian population, while small, has shown consistent growth from 2% in 2013 to 7% in 2022, potentially indicating an emerging trend of increased Asian representation in the area.
The median income in Cooper Grant has seen fluctuations over the past decade. Starting from $13,244 in 2013, it rose to $61,592 in 2021 before settling at $48,816 in 2022. This represents an overall increase of 268% from 2013 to 2022, suggesting substantial economic changes in the neighborhood.
The population has also fluctuated, starting at 1,484 in 2013, dropping to 1,121 in 2019, and then rebounding to 1,532 in 2022. This U-shaped trend in population could be related to various factors such as urban renewal efforts, changes in student enrollment at Rutgers University-Camden, or broader economic shifts in Camden.
The demographic shifts observed in Cooper Grant align with broader trends of increasing diversity seen in many urban areas across the United States. The transition from a Black Majority to a more diverse community with a White plurality is notable and may reflect changing patterns of urban gentrification or revitalization efforts in Camden.
The increase in median income, particularly the rise between 2019 and 2021, is significant and outpaces national trends. This could be indicative of targeted economic development initiatives in the area, potentially linked to the presence of Rutgers University-Camden or other local factors.
The fluctuations in population, particularly the decrease from 2013 to 2019 followed by an increase, may reflect broader urban trends of population decline and subsequent revitalization in post-industrial cities. Camden, like many cities in the Northeast, has faced economic challenges but has also been the focus of revitalization efforts in recent years.
Cooper Grant has transformed from a predominantly Black, low-income neighborhood to a more economically prosperous and racially diverse area over the past decade. This transition likely reflects both local initiatives and broader urban demographic trends, with the presence of Rutgers University-Camden potentially playing a significant role in shaping the neighborhood's evolving character.
