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Demographic Transition in Fiarlawn: Hispanic Majority and Racial Shifts
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Fiarlawn neighborhood in San Marcos, Texas, exhibits characteristics of a Majority-Minority community with a Hispanic Majority as of 2022. The Hispanic population comprises 53% of the neighborhood, while the White population represents 35%. The median income is $33,752. Fiarlawn has experienced population growth over the past decade, increasing from 4,075 in 2010 to 7,572 in 2022.
Fiarlawn has undergone a transition in its racial composition over the past decade. In 2013, the community exhibited Moderate Diversity, with White (47%) and Hispanic (40%) populations as the dominant groups. By 2017, the neighborhood had shifted to a Majority-Minority status. Between 2019 and 2021, the Hispanic population grew from 43% to 55%, marking a transition to a Hispanic Majority. The White population decreased from 47% in 2013 to 32% in 2021. The Black population peaked at 17% in 2019 before declining to 8% in 2022.
The median income in Fiarlawn has increased from $26,519 in 2013 to $33,752 in 2022, a 27% increase. This growth has not been steady, with fluctuations observed throughout the decade. The period of significant demographic change (2019-2021) coincided with a slight decrease in median income from $35,368 to $34,703.
The population growth from 4,075 in 2010 to 7,572 in 2022 represents an 86% increase. This growth, combined with the shifting racial composition and moderate income increases, suggests a complex interplay of gentrification and demographic transition.
The demographic shifts in Fiarlawn mirror broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States, where Hispanic populations are growing and becoming majority groups in previously White-majority areas. The rapid population growth and changing demographics could be indicative of San Marcos's overall growth and its role as a satellite community to larger Texas metros.
The moderate income growth may not have kept pace with the rapid population increase, potentially indicating pressures on housing affordability and local services. This scenario is common in rapidly growing urban areas, especially those experiencing demographic transitions.
Fiarlawn presents a case study of a neighborhood transitioning from a moderately diverse community to one with a Hispanic majority. The economic implications of this shift, coupled with rapid population growth, suggest a neighborhood experiencing demographic change, potentially reflecting broader trends in urban Texas and the United States.
