Well, sort of. In big cities like Detroit, Atlanta, and Oakland, white people left in droves. No, really. White people got as far away from urban centers like Detroit as if you could catch bad credit just by living there.
Now that I think about it… Nevermind.
Anyway, a new report by the Census Bureau’s America Community Survey data shows that white people are coming back to the city instead of remaining in the ‘burbs.
According to the study, in America’s 50 largest cities, white population fell by over 1 million during the 90’s.
Those numbers kept sliding in the aughts but the population change wasn’t half as bad as America’s largest cities saw “just” a change in white population by almost 600,000 people.
Enter the post-recession years (2010-2014) and white people have changed their minds. In just four years, this nation’s 50 largest cities gained in white population by almost 500,000 people.
That’s a lot of white people.
Now those numbers are representative of the whole and not the average. The Brookings article notes that 24 big cities saw a gain in white population while 21 saw no change at all. That means that some cities are still trying to figure out how to hold on to the white people who have stuck around this long.
But when you stop to think about it, it’s not that shocking that white people, and everybody else, are starting to move back to the city. Look around your state’s largest city (not you, Mississippi).
If we use Orlando as an example, it is about as attractive to millennials as a sale is down at the Piggly Wiggly is to your grandmother. By the way, I think that the Piggly Wiggly has chicken wings on sale.
But back to the money.
A slew of young people have come back as well as old people. Well, let’s just say they are seasoned old people.
The change in population also shows that white people between the ages of 65-74 are moving back to the city.
Nostalgia maybe?
So what does this all mean? I guess it means that white people are coming back to the city? Also means that in some inner cities, voting age population and representation may change if the white people stick around.
By no means is that a bad thing, but district lines are drawn a certain way for a reason. In 10 to 15 years, District 5 downtown may have a different look because of white flight back to the city and gentrification.
There are pros and cons to everything, I guess. Just don’t take my Trader Joe’s away, bro.
-JH
photo credit: Their moment via photopin (license)
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