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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Hampton Leas, a neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina, is characterized as a Low Diversity community with a White Majority. As of 2022, the population is 95% white, with a median income of $138,618. The neighborhood is known for its affluent status and aesthetic features typical of upscale Southern neighborhoods.
Over the past decade, Hampton Leas has maintained its status as a Low Diversity community with a White Majority. From 2013 to 2017, the neighborhood remained highly homogeneous, with whites comprising over 90% of the population. There was a small but consistent Asian presence (3-4%) and a growing Hispanic population (peaking at 6% in 2014). Between 2018 and 2021, a slight increase in diversity occurred, with the Black population rising from 0% to 7-8%. This period could be described as a minor Transitional Community phase, as the white population decreased to 89% in 2019. In 2022, the community reverted to an even stronger White Majority (95%), indicating a possible reversal of the brief diversification trend.
The median income in Hampton Leas has fluctuated over the years, showing an overall upward trend. From 2013 to 2018, there was a steady increase from $131,905 to $170,416, correlating with the period of highest racial homogeneity. From 2019 to 2022, there was a slight decline and stabilization around $140,000-$150,000, coinciding with the brief period of increased racial diversity. The population has remained relatively stable, ranging from 270 to 300 residents throughout the decade, suggesting a consistent community size despite demographic shifts.
Hampton Leas' demographic profile contrasts with broader trends in Columbia and South Carolina. While many urban areas have experienced increased diversification, Hampton Leas has maintained its overwhelmingly white composition. This persistence of low diversity in an affluent neighborhood may reflect broader patterns of residential segregation often observed in Southern cities.
The median income in Hampton Leas is significantly higher than the South Carolina state median, which was approximately $54,864 in 2020, indicating that this is an enclave of wealth within the region. The slight decrease in median income coinciding with increased diversity (2018-2021) could suggest a brief period of socioeconomic integration, but the quick reversion to a stronger White Majority in 2022 implies that this trend was short-lived.
Hampton Leas represents a microcosm of persistent racial and economic segregation, resisting broader national trends towards increased diversity in urban areas. The neighborhood's brief period of increased diversity, followed by a reversion to extreme homogeneity, raises questions about the long-term sustainability of such exclusive enclaves in increasingly diverse cities.