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Perry Park, Kansas: A Study of Racial Diversity and Demographic Shifts
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Perry Park, a neighborhood in Lawrence, Kansas, exhibits characteristics of a "Transitional Community" with moderate diversity. As of 2022, it has a white plurality of 67% and shows significant shifts in racial composition over the past decade. The neighborhood's median income is $59,268 in 2022, reflecting a decrease from previous years. Perry Park is located near the University of Kansas.
Perry Park has transitioned from a "Low Diversity" community in 2013, with a white majority of 83%, to a more diverse "Transitional Community" by 2022. The white population declined from 83% in 2013 to 67% in 2022. The multiracial population increased from 0% in 2013 to 16% in 2022. The Asian population grew from 2% in 2013 to 4% in 2022, peaking at 8% in 2019. The Hispanic population remained stable around 5-8% throughout the decade.
The neighborhood's economic trajectory shows correlations with its demographic shifts. Median income rose from $58,278 in 2013 to a peak of $77,867 in 2020, coinciding with increased diversity. A sharp decrease to $59,268 occurred in 2022. Population peaked at 3,448 in 2018 but declined to 2,762 by 2022.
Perry Park's demographic evolution reflects broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas, particularly those near universities. The growth in the multiracial population (16% by 2022) exceeds the national average, which was around 2.8% in 2020. This indicates that Perry Park may be at the forefront of demographic shifts seen in many college towns across the U.S.
The economic volatility, particularly the recent decline, might be more severe than in comparable neighborhoods, suggesting local factors play a significant role in Perry Park's socio-economic landscape. The interplay between the university's influence, demographic shifts, and economic factors will likely continue to define Perry Park's evolution.
Perry Park exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving from low diversity to moderate diversity with a distinct multiracial component. Its economic trajectory, while initially positive, has faced recent challenges that may reshape the neighborhood's character in the coming years.
