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McPherson Neighborhood, Dayton: Demographic Shifts and Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The McPherson neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio exhibits notable demographic characteristics as of 2022. The population stands at 421 with a median income of $32,994. The neighborhood is classified as a "White Majority" community, with 58% of residents identifying as white. This majority is relatively slim, indicating a degree of diversity. McPherson is known for its historical significance in Dayton, featuring well-preserved examples of early 20th-century architecture.
Over the past decade, McPherson has experienced significant demographic changes. In 2013, the neighborhood was classified as a "Moderate Diversity" area, with a nearly even split between white (55%) and black (39%) residents. By 2017, it had transitioned to a "White Majority" community, with white residents comprising 80% of the population. This shift represents a notable change in the neighborhood's racial composition.
From 2020 onwards, the neighborhood has shown characteristics of a "Transitional Community". The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races increased from 3% in 2016 to 10% in 2020 and has remained stable since then. The Hispanic population has also seen a slight increase, from 0% in 2016 to 4% in 2022. These trends suggest a gradual move towards increased diversity, despite the white majority.
The demographic shifts in McPherson correlate with fluctuations in median income. As the neighborhood transitioned to a White Majority between 2013 and 2017, the median income increased from $24,233 to $28,091. A significant spike occurred in 2018, with median income reaching $46,565, coinciding with the highest white population percentage (76%) since 2017. However, subsequent years saw a decline in median income, dropping to $32,994 in 2022. This decline coincides with an increase in racial diversity, particularly the growth in the black population from 17% in 2019 to 27% in 2022, and the stabilization of the two or more races category at 10%.
Population figures have fluctuated, decreasing from 711 in 2010 to a low of 387 in 2016, before stabilizing around 420-430 in recent years. This population stabilization occurs alongside the increase in racial diversity, suggesting a potential link between demographic diversity and population stability.
The demographic shifts observed in McPherson reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban neighborhoods. The dramatic swing towards a White Majority in the mid-2010s, followed by a gradual return to diversity, is somewhat unique. This pattern could be indicative of localized gentrification followed by a rebalancing, a phenomenon observed in many mid-sized American cities.
The median income in McPherson ($32,994 in 2022) remains below the national median household income (approximately $70,000 in 2021), suggesting that despite demographic changes, the neighborhood continues to face economic challenges. This economic situation, combined with the increasing diversity, may present both opportunities and challenges for community development and social cohesion in the coming years.
McPherson's demographic evolution over the past decade reveals a complex interplay between racial composition, economic factors, and population dynamics. As the neighborhood continues its transition towards greater diversity, it will be crucial to monitor how these changes impact local economic conditions and community life.
