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Longview Neighborhood in Wichita: A Decade of Demographic and Racial Shifts
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Longview, a neighborhood in Wichita, Kansas, exhibits characteristics of Low Diversity, with a White Majority of 87% as of 2022. The area has a population of 569 and a median income of $50,786. Longview is located near McConnell Air Force Base, which may influence its demographic composition and economic dynamics.
Over the past decade, Longview has undergone changes in its racial composition. From 2013 to 2022, the neighborhood maintained a White Majority status, with the white population never falling below 54%. Between 2014 and 2017, the neighborhood showed signs of becoming a Transitional Community. The percentage of Black residents increased from 10% to 23%, while the white population decreased from 63% to 54%. This period also saw an increase in residents identifying as two or more races.
From 2018 to 2022, there was a reversal of this trend, with the white population increasing from 66% in 2018 to 87% in 2022, establishing the area as Low Diversity. The median income in Longview has shown volatility. It peaked at $54,655 in 2015 but declined to $48,728 by 2017. Income levels recovered somewhat but continued to fluctuate, ending at $50,786 in 2022.
Population trends show a pattern of fluctuation, with a peak of 653 residents in 2021 before dropping to 569 in 2022.
The demographic trends in Longview contrast with national trends towards increasing diversity. The economic fluctuations in Longview may reflect broader economic challenges faced by mid-sized cities in the Midwest. The proximity to McConnell Air Force Base likely provides some economic stability to the area, potentially influencing both the demographic composition and income levels.
The rapid demographic shifts, particularly the increase and subsequent decrease in Black residents between 2014 and 2022, could be related to changes in military personnel assignments or local housing policies. This pattern might be unique to neighborhoods near military installations, where population can be more transient.
Longview presents a case of a neighborhood that briefly trended towards greater diversity before reverting to a more homogeneous composition. This demographic journey, coupled with economic fluctuations, suggests a complex interplay of local factors, possibly including the influence of the nearby Air Force base, that have shaped the community's evolution over the past decade.
