Loading Content...
Forest Park: A Black Majority Neighborhood with Changing Demographics
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Forest Park, a neighborhood in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is classified as a "Black Majority" community. As of 2022, the Black population constitutes 53% of the neighborhood's residents. The median income in Forest Park was $33,311 in 2022, which is below the national median household income. Forest Park has historical significance in Winston-Salem's tobacco industry, which has influenced its demographic and economic development.
Over the past decade, Forest Park has maintained its status as a "Black Majority" community. The Black population percentage has fluctuated between 45% and 56%. The Hispanic population has shown changes, ranging from 26% to 38% over the years. The neighborhood has approached a "Majority-Minority" status at times, particularly when the Black population was closer to 50% and other minority groups increased. The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races grew from 0% in 2013 to 5% in 2022.
The median income in Forest Park has shown volatility over the past decade. From 2013 to 2019, the neighborhood experienced a downward trend in median income, dropping from $23,504 to $19,847. There was a significant increase in median income from 2019 to 2021, peaking at $81,771 in 2021 before decreasing to $33,311 in 2022. The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between about 1,850 and 2,250 residents throughout the decade.
The persistent "Black Majority" status of Forest Park aligns with trends in many urban areas across the United States, where historical patterns of segregation have led to concentrated minority populations in specific neighborhoods. The growing Hispanic population reflects national trends of increasing Hispanic representation in many American communities.
The economic volatility observed in Forest Park, particularly the income increase in 2021 followed by a decline, may reflect localized factors more than national trends. Nationally, median household incomes have generally shown more gradual changes. The neighborhood's median income, even at its 2022 level of $33,311, remains below the national median household income, indicating economic challenges in the community.
Forest Park presents a community maintaining its Black majority status while experiencing increasing diversity and economic fluctuations. These trends reflect both local dynamics and broader national patterns of demographic change and economic inequality in urban America.
