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Demographic Transition in Lakewood Village: From White Majority to Moderate Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Lakewood Village, a neighborhood in Long Beach, California, currently exhibits a Moderate Diversity community with a White Plurality. As of 2022, the white population comprises 47% of the neighborhood, followed by Hispanic (29%) and Asian (12%) populations. The area has a median income of $95,556. Lakewood Village is known for its mid-century modern architecture, reflecting its development during the post-World War II housing boom.
Over the past decade, Lakewood Village has undergone a transformation in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as a White Majority community, with 53% of the population identifying as white. By 2022, this had shifted to a White Plurality (47%), indicating a transition towards greater diversity.
The Hispanic population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 28-34% throughout the decade. The Asian population has increased from 8% in 2013 to 12% in 2022. The Black population has increased from 5% to 7% during this period. This evolution suggests a trend towards a more diverse community, though it has not yet reached the threshold for High Diversity as defined in the study.
The median income in Lakewood Village has shown fluctuations but overall growth over the past decade. From $97,325 in 2013, it peaked at $105,343 in 2021 before decreasing to $95,556 in 2022. This overall upward trend in income correlates with the increasing diversity of the neighborhood. The population has remained relatively stable, around 11,500 residents throughout the decade.
The trends observed in Lakewood Village mirror broader national patterns of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many traditionally white-majority suburbs across the United States have been experiencing similar shifts towards greater racial diversity over the past few decades. Lakewood Village's high median income suggests that its diversity is driven more by affluent members of various racial groups rather than by gentrification or urban migration patterns.
The stability of the Hispanic population in Lakewood Village contrasts with the rapid growth of the Hispanic population in many parts of California, indicating that this neighborhood may have reached a demographic equilibrium earlier than other areas in the state.
Lakewood Village represents a gradually diversifying, affluent suburban neighborhood that has maintained its desirability across racial lines. Its evolution from a White Majority to a White Plurality community, coupled with rising incomes, suggests an integration of various racial groups within a prosperous suburban setting. This trend, if continued, may eventually lead to a High Diversity categorization, reflecting broader national movements towards more integrated communities in affluent suburbs.
