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Demographic Transition in Piedmont Mesa: From Moderate Diversity to Hispanic Plurality
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Piedmont Mesa, a neighborhood in Claremont, California, has transformed into a Majority-Minority community with a Hispanic Plurality as of 2022. The Hispanic population now comprises 50% of the neighborhood, while no single racial group forms a majority. The median income in 2022 was $84,117, indicating a relatively affluent area. Claremont is home to the Claremont Colleges consortium, which may influence local demographics and economic indicators.
Over the past decade, Piedmont Mesa has undergone a significant demographic transformation. In 2013, the neighborhood had Moderate Diversity, with White (46%) and Hispanic (36%) populations forming the largest groups. By 2017, the area had transitioned to a Majority-Minority status. The most notable shift occurred between 2019 and 2021, when the neighborhood moved from a Majority-Minority status to a Hispanic Plurality. The Hispanic population increased from 39% to 50%, while the White population decreased from 41% to 31%.
Throughout this period, there has been a consistent increase in the population identifying as two or more races, rising from 1% in 2013 to 5% in 2022, indicating a Transitional Community in terms of increasing diversity. The demographic shifts in Piedmont Mesa have been accompanied by changes in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the median income rose from $65,965 to $84,117, an increase of about 27.5%. This economic growth occurred alongside the transition to a Majority-Minority and then Hispanic Plurality community.
The sharpest increase in median income occurred between 2018 and 2019, jumping from $79,161 to $86,265, coinciding with a period of demographic stability before the significant shift to a Hispanic Plurality. The income growth has slightly leveled off since 2020, possibly reflecting broader economic challenges or a stabilization of the local economy.
The trends observed in Piedmont Mesa align with broader national patterns of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many U.S. suburbs have experienced a transition to Majority-Minority status over the past decade, particularly with growth in Hispanic populations. The economic trajectory of Piedmont Mesa, with its rising median income alongside increasing diversity, is somewhat atypical. Many areas experiencing rapid demographic shifts often see more economic volatility.
The presence of the Claremont Colleges may contribute to this economic stability, as college towns often have more resilient local economies. California as a whole has been at the forefront of demographic shifts towards increased diversity, making Piedmont Mesa's evolution reflective of larger state-wide trends.
Piedmont Mesa exemplifies a Transitional Community that has evolved from Moderate Diversity to a Hispanic Plurality over the past decade, while maintaining economic growth. This transformation reflects broader national trends towards increased diversity in suburban areas, but with the added context of sustained economic improvement that sets it apart from many similar communities undergoing demographic changes.
