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Oak Ridge Neighborhood: Transition to Black Majority and Economic Trends
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
United States Census Bureau: American Community Survey Data (ACS)
Oak Ridge, a neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama, has transitioned from a moderately diverse community to a Black Majority area between 2013 and 2022. The African American population increased from 49% to 62%, while the White population decreased from 47% to 27%. The community also experienced an increase in residents identifying as two or more races, from 0% to 8% during this period.
The economic trajectory of Oak Ridge over the past decade has been characterized by volatility and recent improvement. The median income dropped from $39,093 in 2013 to $27,804 in 2015, but has since increased substantially, reaching $53,591 in 2022. This economic improvement correlates with the shift towards a Black Majority community.
The demographic shifts observed in Oak Ridge reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. However, the specific pattern of transitioning to a Black Majority community may be more reflective of regional trends in the Southeast United States. The economic volatility and recent improvement can be contextualized within the broader economic recovery following the 2008 financial crisis and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The overall population of Oak Ridge has decreased from 4,061 in 2013 to 3,901 in 2022. This population decrease, coupled with increasing median income, suggests a complex interplay of factors such as outmigration of certain groups, in-migration of higher-income residents, or changes in household composition.
Oak Ridge presents a case study of a neighborhood undergoing significant demographic and economic changes. The transition to a Black Majority community, coupled with recent economic improvements, indicates a dynamic urban area adapting to broader societal shifts. These changes likely have implications for local community dynamics, housing markets, and public services.
