In my travels and in my writings I make a very large effort not to gloat or be arrogant. However, back in 2009 I wrote a post about the Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville and how their demographics appear to be changing and the response to that article was such that I had to duck and cover and go into the Witness Protection Program. You would have thought I was saying something bad about their Neighborhood. Changing demographics are not a bad thing on my part it was just an observation. Residents accused me of not knowing their Neighborhood and how dare I say such bad things without actually walking the streets and going inside businesses along Harford Road. Guess What? I have traveled Harford Road on foot and I have gone inside and walked the aisles of the Safeway and CVS just like commentators accused of not doing and that is how I have come to the conclusion that Greater Lauraville was and still is experiencing a change in demographics. My saving grace was to wait for the results of the 2010 census to see what the truth held; turns out I was right.
When I say Greater Lauraville has been undergoing changes I don't just mean an influx of Blacks and a reduction of Whites. I'm hesistant to say White Flight because I do know that Whites still move into the area as well. Other ways Greater Lauraville is changin is that it's emerging as a Restaurant District with new offerings, a vacant lot has been turned into a thriving Farmer's Market the labor of cleaning up that lot was a grassroots effort of Residents who volunteered their own time. Harford Road has welcomed a Safeway and a beautiful new landscaped median. Although the number of Whites has decreased many Neighborhoods in the area have experienced net gains in population; something that an area of Baltimore should be VERY proud of considering how many Residents the City as a whole loses.
Now to put my money where my mouth is; below is a make shift chart that shows the percentage of White population in 2000 vs. 2010 as well as the Black population in 2000 vs. 2010 and whether that Neighborhood has experienced an overall population loss or gain.
White 2000 White 2010 Black 2000 Black 2010 Net Gain/Loss
Arcadia 60% 50% 35% 44% -1.4%
Belair Parkside 39% 24% 55% 67% -11.6%
Beverly Hills 66% 58% 30% 40% -16.5%
Cedmont 75% 45% 21% 50% + 0.5%
Glenham Belhar 67% 38% 29% 58% + 1.4%
Hamilton 38% 26% 59% 70% - 0.3%
Lauraville 51% 41% 44% 54% -5.1%
Moravia Walther 60% 38% 37% 58% -7.3%
Rosemont 70% 39% 24% 55% -1.0%
Waltherson 55% 28% 42% 67% +2.5%
Westfield 77% 51% 19% 44% -2.1%
Arcadia 60% 50% 35% 44% -1.4%
Belair Parkside 39% 24% 55% 67% -11.6%
Beverly Hills 66% 58% 30% 40% -16.5%
Cedmont 75% 45% 21% 50% + 0.5%
Glenham Belhar 67% 38% 29% 58% + 1.4%
Hamilton 38% 26% 59% 70% - 0.3%
Lauraville 51% 41% 44% 54% -5.1%
Moravia Walther 60% 38% 37% 58% -7.3%
Rosemont 70% 39% 24% 55% -1.0%
Waltherson 55% 28% 42% 67% +2.5%
Westfield 77% 51% 19% 44% -2.1%
