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Racial Composition and Economic Trends in Baker Hills, Atlanta: A Study of a Predominantly Black Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Baker Hills, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, exhibits characteristics of a Low Diversity community with a clear Racial Majority. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a 97% Black population, maintaining a high concentration of African American residents over the past decade. This demographic composition is notable within Atlanta's broader metropolitan diversity. Economically, Baker Hills has experienced variations in median income, with the most recent data indicating a median income of $40,052 in 2022, below the national average but showing improvement over the past decade.
Throughout the analyzed period (2013-2022), Baker Hills has consistently been a Low Diversity community with a strong Black Racial Majority. The percentage of Black residents has remained above 85%, reaching as high as 98% in recent years. This stability in racial composition indicates a well-established African American community with minimal influx of other racial groups.
Minor fluctuations have occurred in other racial categories, particularly in the White population, which briefly reached 2-3% between 2016 and 2020 before declining. Recent data shows a small increase in residents identifying as two or more races, rising to 3% in 2022. While this change is minimal, it may indicate the early stages of a Transitional Community, albeit at a very slow pace.
The median income in Baker Hills has shown an overall upward trend over the decade, with significant fluctuations. From $30,215 in 2016, it rose to $57,048 in 2021, before settling at $40,052 in 2022. This trend suggests gradual economic improvement within the predominantly Black community.
Baker Hills' population has fluctuated, growing from 645 in 2013 to 791 in 2022, with a peak of 856 in 2018. This population growth, combined with rising median income, may indicate increasing neighborhood attractiveness, possibly due to improved economic opportunities or housing affordability compared to other parts of Atlanta.
Baker Hills' demographic composition is notable even within Atlanta, a city known for its significant African American population. While Atlanta is often categorized as a Majority-Minority city with a diverse racial mix, Baker Hills represents an area of exceptional racial homogeneity.
The economic trends in Baker Hills, while generally positive, still place the neighborhood below the median income levels of Atlanta and the national average. This indicates that despite progress, economic challenges may persist in this predominantly African American community.
The slight increase in racial diversity aligns with national trends of increasing multiracial identification, but at a much slower pace than in many other urban areas. This suggests that Baker Hills is somewhat insulated from broader demographic shifts occurring in many U.S. cities.
Baker Hills presents a case of a highly stable, predominantly African American community within Atlanta's diverse landscape. While showing signs of economic improvement, the neighborhood maintains its distinct racial character, with only subtle indications of potential future diversification. This stability may offer both strengths in community cohesion and challenges in integration with the broader, more diverse urban environment of Atlanta.
