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Fort McPherson Neighborhood: A Study of Black Majority Demographics
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Fort McPherson, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, currently exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a strong Black Majority. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 1,611 and a median income of $27,480. Fort McPherson is the site of a former U.S. Army base that closed in 2011, which has likely influenced its demographic and economic evolution over the past decade.
Throughout the analyzed period (2013-2022), Fort McPherson has consistently maintained a Black Majority status. However, the intensity of this majority has fluctuated. From 2013 to 2019, there was a trend towards increasing Black population percentage, peaking at 97% in 2019. Post-2019, there has been a slight decrease in the Black majority, dropping to 88% by 2022. The White population saw a decline from 9% in 2013 to a low of 2% in 2018-2019, before rising again to 6% in 2022. Hispanic and Other racial categories have shown minimal but increasing presence since 2020.
The median income in Fort McPherson has shown significant volatility over the decade. From 2013 to 2019, median income fluctuated between $14,675 and $20,869, indicating persistent economic challenges. A notable increase occurred in 2020-2021, with median income reaching a peak of $38,109 in 2021. However, 2022 saw a decline to $27,480, though still higher than pre-2020 levels.
The population has also experienced fluctuations. There was a general decline from 2,122 in 2010 to 1,342 in 2020. A slight rebound to 1,611 occurred by 2022. The economic trends seem to correlate with the slight increase in diversity post-2019. The significant income increase in 2020-2021 coincides with a small influx of non-Black residents, potentially indicating some gentrification or redevelopment efforts.
The closure of Fort McPherson as an active military base in 2011 likely played a significant role in the neighborhood's demographic and economic shifts. Many military communities experience demographic changes following base closures. The persistent low income levels, despite recent improvements, suggest that Fort McPherson faces greater economic challenges compared to Atlanta as a whole, where the median household income was around $64,179 in 2021.
The overwhelming Black majority in Fort McPherson contrasts with Atlanta's overall racial composition, which is more diverse (about 51% Black, 38% White, and 4% Hispanic in 2020). This suggests that Fort McPherson remains a distinct enclave within the broader, more diverse Atlanta metropolitan area. The recent uptick in diversity and income could indicate the beginning of a transition period for Fort McPherson, possibly linked to redevelopment efforts of the former military base. However, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue or if the neighborhood will maintain its current demographic and economic characteristics.
