Report Shows Black Population in Chicago Currently Declining
Report Shows Black Population in Chicago Currently Declining
State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D-CH), Chairperson of Higher Education Appropriations is working with UIC ahead of the 2020 U.S Census to increase an accurate count. A startling report is sounding the alarm on the declining black population in Chicago. A report by the UIC Great Cities Institute shows the black population in Chicago is currently declining in every predominant black community in Chicago. Chicago’s black population is on track to shrink to 665,000 by the year 2030.
Ford believes this decline could be in part by the lack of community safety, low-quality schools, declining in property values, employment, and local reinvestment where black people live. The city is almost one billion dollars in debt. The city, county, state, and federal partners must increase revenue coming from the federal government by encouraging an accurate count for the 2020 Census. Ford believes an accurate count could bring better opportunities to black neighborhoods and help fix this declining trend.
“This report’s data is showing thousands of African American residents moving away from Chicago every year,” said Ford. “I think this data should be alarming to our black population. We must stop this disappointing trend and do our part in reinvesting into our neighborhoods. Our underserved neighborhoods deserve better, but we also have to do our part to ensure we have an accurate count in 2020 to receive better funding, services, and representations.”
Teresa Córdova, director of the UIC Great Cities Institute and professor of urban planning and policy, also showed her concern for the report.
“These figures further demonstrate the importance of rebuilding vibrant communities on the south and west sides of Chicago by reinvesting in key anchor institutions to catalyze economic growth,” said Córdova. “People will stay if they have access to good schools, affordable housing, adequate healthcare, and opportunities for employment.”
The report’s data highlights can be found below:
• Chicago has experienced a decline in black population since a peak in or around the 1980 census.
• Since a peak measured in 1980, Chicago’s Black population has declined steadily from 1,187,905 in 1980 to 797,253 in 2017, a decrease of 390,652 or 32.9%.
• There were 29 majority Black community areas in 1980, all of which have lost black population ranging from a 10.9% in South Deering to 65.9% in Washington Park, with Englewood and West Englewood losing the highest number of residents, -34,326 and -33,242, respectively.
• Before 1980 when the city’s black population peaked, neighborhoods such as Grand Boulevard had a black population peak in 1950 (113,374) and lost 92,236 Black residents, a decrease of 81.4% between 1950 and 2013- 2017.
• North Lawndale had a peak black population in 1960 (113,827) and lost 82,557 black residents by 2013-2017, a decrease of 72.5%.
• Chicago’s black population loss in percent is most similar to that of Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Detroit and St. Louis in contrast to cities that have seen slight or large increases in the black population such as Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and New York City.
UIC Great Cities Report Can Be Seen At Link Below:
https://greatcities.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Black-Population-Loss-in-Chicago.pdf
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