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Prairie Shores: A Chicago Neighborhood's Transition to Asian Plurality
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
United States Census Bureau: American Community Survey Data (ACS)
Prairie Shores, a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, demonstrates a unique demographic profile characterized as a "Moderate Diversity" community with an Asian plurality. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 2,757 and a median income of $55,831. Prairie Shores has undergone a rapid transition from a predominantly Black neighborhood to one with a significant Asian population over the past decade, making it an example of a "Transitional Community".
In 2013, Prairie Shores was categorized as a "Black Majority" community, with 58% of the population identifying as Black. Over the next decade, the neighborhood underwent a significant demographic transformation. By 2018, it had shifted to a "Moderate Diversity" classification, with no single racial group holding a majority. The Asian population grew from 29% in 2013 to 56% in 2022, establishing an "Asian Plurality" in the neighborhood.
This transition was accompanied by a decline in the Black population, from 58% in 2013 to 31% in 2022. The White and Hispanic populations remained relatively stable, with slight fluctuations, while other racial categories saw minimal changes.
The demographic shifts in Prairie Shores correlate with economic changes. The median income rose from $38,535 in 2013 to $55,831 in 2022, representing a 45% increase. This economic growth coincided with the influx of Asian residents and the decrease in the Black population.
The population of Prairie Shores experienced fluctuations, declining from 2,543 in 2010 to 2,153 in 2013, before increasing to 2,757 in 2022. This population growth aligns with the neighborhood's increasing diversity and rising median income.
The demographic shift in Prairie Shores reflects trends seen in some urban areas across the United States, where traditionally African American neighborhoods are experiencing an influx of Asian residents. The economic growth in Prairie Shores places the neighborhood below the median household income for Chicago as a whole, which was approximately $65,781 in 2021.
The increase in the Asian population in Prairie Shores is noteworthy compared to Chicago's overall demographic trends. The Asian population in Chicago represented about 7% of the city's population in 2020. The concentration of Asian residents in Prairie Shores (56% in 2022) indicates that this neighborhood has become an enclave for Asian communities within Chicago.
Prairie Shores exemplifies a "Transitional Community" that has evolved from a "Black Majority" area to a "Moderate Diversity" neighborhood with an "Asian Plurality" over the past decade. This demographic shift has been accompanied by economic improvements, positioning Prairie Shores as a changing part of Chicago's urban landscape.
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