Demographic Transition in Park Plaza East: From White Plurality to Hispanic Plurality
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
Park Plaza East, a neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, represents a Moderate Diversity community with a Hispanic Plurality as of 2022. The neighborhood's population is 7,083, with a median income of $58,250. Over the past decade, Park Plaza East has transitioned from a predominantly White community to one with a growing Hispanic population.
In 2013, Park Plaza East had a White Plurality, with White residents comprising 44% of the population. By 2022, it had evolved into a Moderate Diversity community with a Hispanic Plurality. The Hispanic population increased from 23% in 2013 to 38% in 2022, while the White population decreased from 44% to 35%. The Black population decreased from 21% to 12%, and the Asian population increased from 5% to 8%.
The demographic shifts coincided with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the median income increased from $46,295 to $58,250, a 25.8% growth. The period of most significant income growth (2019-2021) coincided with an increase in the Hispanic population and a slight decline in the White population. The population of Park Plaza East grew from 6,746 in 2013 to 7,083 in 2022, a 5% increase.
The demographic shifts in Park Plaza East reflect broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States, where traditionally White-majority neighborhoods are becoming more diverse, often with growing Hispanic populations. This trend is particularly noticeable in states like Oklahoma, which has seen significant growth in its Hispanic population over the past two decades.
The economic growth in Park Plaza East, while positive, may be slightly below the national average for the same period. The neighborhood has shown resilience, maintaining growth despite potential challenges associated with demographic transitions.
Park Plaza East presents a case study of a neighborhood in transition. Its evolution from a White Plurality to a Moderate Diversity community with a Hispanic Plurality reflects broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. The concurrent economic growth suggests that this demographic shift has brought vitality to the neighborhood, though challenges associated with rapid change may also be present.
