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Demographic Trends in Northwest Big River, Wichita: A Study of Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
United States Census Bureau: American Community Survey Data (ACS)
Northwest Big River in Wichita, Kansas, is a neighborhood characterized by low diversity with a strong White majority. In 2022, the White population constituted 83% of the total population of 1,896 residents. The median income for the area was $48,425. The neighborhood is situated near the Arkansas River, which influences local activities and community structure.
From 2013 to 2022, Northwest Big River maintained its status as a low diversity neighborhood with a White majority. The White population percentage increased from 69% in 2013 to 83% in 2022. The Hispanic population fluctuated, reaching 12% in 2013 and 2022, but decreasing to 3% in 2017. The Asian population grew from 2% in 2013 to 5% in 2021, then decreased to 3% in 2022. The Black population remained consistently below 3% throughout the decade.
The neighborhood's economic indicators showed some correlation with demographic shifts. Median income increased from $44,442 in 2013 to $59,208 in 2017, coinciding with the lowest Hispanic representation and highest White percentage. After 2017, median income gradually declined to $48,425 in 2022, aligning with a slight increase in Hispanic and Asian populations. The total population remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 1,795 and 2,068 residents.
Northwest Big River's demographic trends differ from national patterns of increasing diversity. While many U.S. cities have experienced growing Hispanic and Asian populations, this neighborhood has maintained and strengthened its White majority.
The economic trajectory of Northwest Big River, with its rise and subsequent decline in median income, reflects some national trends of post-2008 recession recovery followed by challenges in the late 2010s. However, the neighborhood's median income in 2022 ($48,425) is below the national median household income, which was approximately $70,784 in 2021.
Northwest Big River presents a case of a suburban neighborhood resisting broader national trends towards increased diversity. Its economic fluctuations, while following some national patterns, suggest a complex interplay between demographic composition and economic well-being that may be specific to this community context.
