Loading Content...
Demographic Transitions in Garrad Woods: A Study of Racial Composition and Economic Indicators
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Garrad Woods, a neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia, exhibits a White Majority with 74% of residents being white in 2022. The neighborhood has experienced significant changes in racial composition and economic indicators over the past decade. Garrad Woods' proximity to Fort Benning likely influences its demographic makeup due to the transient nature of military populations.
Over the past decade, Garrad Woods has undergone changes in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood had Low Diversity, with the white population at 80%. By 2017, the community transitioned to Moderate Diversity, with increases in both black and Hispanic populations (16% each). From 2018 to 2022, the neighborhood experienced another transition. While maintaining a White Majority, the black population increased to 25% in 2020 before slightly declining. This pattern indicates that Garrad Woods can be classified as a Transitional Community.
The demographic shifts in Garrad Woods correlate with changes in median income. In 2013, when the community showed Low Diversity, the median income was $64,058. As the neighborhood transitioned to Moderate Diversity, median income declined to $48,512 by 2017. The most significant economic shift occurred between 2019 and 2020, with median income decreasing from $49,842 to $38,632. This decline coincides with the peak in black population percentage and may be related to broader economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2020, median income has remained relatively stable at this lower level, even as the racial composition has slightly shifted back towards a stronger White Majority. Population figures have also fluctuated, with a peak of 995 residents in 2017 during the period of highest diversity, followed by a decline to 754 by 2022. This population decrease, coupled with the lower median income, suggests potential outmigration of higher-income residents or broader economic challenges in the area.
The demographic and economic trends in Garrad Woods reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in suburban areas. However, the sharp economic decline observed here is more pronounced than national averages, potentially due to local factors such as the influence of Fort Benning and the local economy's dependence on military-related employment.
The transition towards increased diversity followed by a partial reversal is noteworthy and may be indicative of broader socio-economic forces at play. This pattern could be compared to other military-adjacent communities to determine if it's part of a larger trend or unique to Garrad Woods.
Garrad Woods exemplifies a Transitional Community, having moved from Low Diversity to Moderate Diversity and back to a White Majority with increased minority representation. These demographic shifts have been accompanied by significant economic changes, highlighting the complex interplay between racial composition and economic factors in shaping neighborhood dynamics.
