Lakewood/Seward Park

In the first analysis of new 2005-2009 Census Block Group data, Remapping Debate has developed an interactive map illustrating segregation right down to the city block level, revealing some otherwise hidden truths not necessarily apparent in the larger geographic areas represented by Census Tracts:

The new maps, available here, highlight areas that remain ultra-white, as well as areas that are disproportionately African-American or Latino or both.

For the map that looks at African-American population, one is able to identify those Census Block Groups that have zero African-Americans, less than 1.0 percent, from 1.0 percent to less than 2.0 percent, and from 2.0 percent to less than 3.0 percent. One can also see those Census Blocks Groups that are 50 percent African-American or more.

In other words, the areas highlighted are those that are have an African-American population no more than one quarter the national population of African-Americans, or an African-American population that is more than four times the national percentage of African-Americans. Go to the maps.

For instance, Map A (left) illustrates what appears to be a relatively diverse Puget Sound region (ironically represented in white) as compared to other areas of the state which are almost exclusively white (represented in red). However, what it doesn’t show is how small an area that so-called diversity is concentrated, which is significantly more apparent in Map B (below center).

Digging even deeper with Map C (above right), which is composed of Seattle zip codes 98118 and 98144, also known as the Rainier Valley, one can see that south-end neighborhoods like Mt. Baker and Seward Park are predominantly white, with a small population (1 to 2 percent represented in pink) of blacks father south on Lake Washington, while Hillman City, Othello and Rainier Beach are more than 50 percent black (represented in gray).

Indeed, one of the key data findings here is that 75 percent of African-Americans in the United States live in only 16 percent of the country’s Census Block Groups.

Ed’s note: To clarify, Remapping Debate has released three interactive maps. The first map looks at African-American populations, the second at Hispanic populations and the third map shows demographic combinations in Census Block Groups that have less than 3.0 percent African-Americans and less than 7.0 percent Latinos, as well as those that have either African-American or Latino population of 50 percent or more.

Related:

• SPD: Crime Down in Every Precinct Except South Seattle (1/31/11)
• Only 10% of Seattle’s Black Students Attend High-Performing Elementary Schools (11/30/10)
• Color-Coded Map Illustrates Striking Disparity Between North & South Seattle Schools (11/11/10)
• Raw Numbers: South-End Schools Plagued by Low Scores (11/9/10)

Tagged as: 98118, 98144, African American, Amber Campbell, black, Brighton, Census Block Group data, Census Tracts, hillman city, Lakewood/Seward Park, mt. baker, othello, rainier beach, Rainier Valley, Remapping Debate, Seward Park, white

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