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Upper Hill: A Study of Racial Demographics and Economic Trends in a Pittsburgh Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Upper Hill, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, exhibits characteristics of a Black Majority community with moderate economic stability. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 1,980 and a median income of $38,648. The area is part of Pittsburgh's Hill District, which has been a cultural center for African American life in the city for decades.
Over the past decade, Upper Hill has consistently maintained its status as a Black Majority neighborhood. From 2013 to 2022, the Black population remained the dominant group, ranging from 66% to 76% of the total population. The neighborhood has shown signs of increasing diversity. The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races increased from 1% in 2013 to 8% in 2022. The White population has fluctuated between 15% and 21% over the decade. The Asian population has shown variability, ranging from 4% to 11%, but generally remaining a small minority.
The economic landscape of Upper Hill has shown significant fluctuations over the past decade. The median income has been highly variable, ranging from a low of $21,482 in 2015 to a high of $51,073 in 2019. From 2020 to 2022, the median income has shown signs of stabilization, hovering around $37,000-$38,000. The population has fluctuated between approximately 1,800 and 2,200 residents over the decade, with no clear trend of growth or decline.
The period of highest median income (2017-2019) coincided with a slight decrease in the Black majority and an increase in the White and Asian populations. The recent stabilization of income levels (2020-2022) has occurred alongside a slight decrease in the Black majority and an increase in multiracial residents.
Upper Hill's demographic trends align with broader national patterns of increasing diversity in urban areas. However, the neighborhood's persistent Black Majority status sets it apart from many gentrifying urban areas that have seen more dramatic shifts in racial composition. The economic volatility observed in Upper Hill may reflect broader economic challenges faced by historically African American neighborhoods in post-industrial cities like Pittsburgh.
Upper Hill presents a complex picture of a historically Black neighborhood experiencing subtle demographic shifts and economic fluctuations. While maintaining its Black Majority status, the neighborhood shows signs of increasing diversity and recent economic stabilization, suggesting a community in transition that balances preservation of its cultural heritage with adaptation to changing urban dynamics.
