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Demographic Trends in Edgewood: A Study of Racial Composition and Economic Challenges
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Edgewood, a neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a Black Majority of 70% as of 2022. The community has a median income of $14,174 in 2022, which is below the national average. Edgewood is a historically African American neighborhood with significance in Columbia's civil rights history.
Over the past decade, Edgewood has undergone a transition in its racial composition. The Black population percentage decreased from 84% in 2013 to 70% in 2022, while the White population increased from 13% to 22%. Despite these changes, Edgewood has remained in the Low Diversity category due to the predominance of a single racial group. The neighborhood shows signs of moving towards a Transitional Community status, with increasing percentages of residents identifying as two or more races and a slight increase in Hispanic representation.
The economic landscape of Edgewood has been characterized by persistent challenges. The median income has fluctuated but generally remained low, decreasing from $16,525 in 2013 to $14,174 in 2022, representing a decline of about 14% over the decade. The slight increase in racial diversity coincides with a marginal improvement in median income from its lowest point of $13,654 in 2018 to $14,174 in 2022. However, this modest gain has not significantly altered the overall economic status of the neighborhood.
The population of Edgewood has seen a decline, from 1,550 in 2013 to 1,199 in 2022, a decrease of about 22.6%. This population loss could be attributed to various factors, including economic pressures and changing housing dynamics in the broader Columbia area.
The demographic shifts observed in Edgewood reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban neighborhoods. However, the persistence of economic challenges in Edgewood contrasts with many gentrifying urban areas across the U.S., where increasing diversity often correlates with rising incomes and property values. The decline in population in Edgewood also diverges from the general trend of urban population growth seen in many U.S. cities over the past decade.
In conclusion, Edgewood shows signs of slowly transitioning towards greater diversity, but continues to face significant economic challenges. The neighborhood's evolving demographic profile, coupled with its persistent economic challenges, presents both opportunities and obstacles for community development and social cohesion in the coming years.
