Adams Morgan is composed of several
census tracts: 38, 40.01, 40.02, 42.01 and 62.02. I focused on the
years of 1990, 2000, and 2010.
In 1990, the population of tract 38 was
recorded to be 4,108. It increased to 4,427 in 2000 and again to
4,718 in 2010.
During this time period, the percentage
of black residents in this tract declined steadily, from 49% in 1990
to 34% in 2000 to 19% in 2010. The percentage of Hispanic residents
was given as 18% in 1990, 27% in 2000, and 20% in 2010.
Poverty in this tract was recorded as
18% in 1990, 21% in 2000, and 12% from 2005-2009, with 2010 data
being unavailable. Unemployment steadily decreased during this
period, it was recorded as 7.2% in 1990, 51.% in 2000, and 4.6% from
2005-2009. 348 people were listed as receiving food stamps in 2000,
which increased to 420 in 2010. 175 families were listed as receiving
TANF assistance in 2000, decreasing to 110 in 2010.
Violent crimes for this tract decreased
slightly from 15 per 1000 people in 2000 to 14 per 2000 people in
2010. Property crimes also decreased over this period, from 64 per
1000 people in 2000 to 40 per 1000 people in 2010.
In 1990, the population of tract 40.01
was recorded to be 2,860. In 2000, it increased to 3,331, and in 2010
it increased further to 3,745.
During this time period, the percentage
of black residents in this tract declined steadily, from 7.4% in 1990
to 5.0% in 2000 to 4.3% in 2010. The percentage of Hispanic residents
was given as 11% in 1990, 6% in 2000, and 9.3% in 2010.
The poverty rate of this tract was
given as 5.7% in 1990, 5.2% in 2000, and 3.5% from 2005-2009.
Unemployment was given as 1.6% in 1990, 0.6% in 2000, and 3.9% from
2005-2009. 2010 data was not available for either of these
statistics. In 2000, 29 people were noted to be receiving food
stamps, and this number increased to 42 in 2010. 14 people were
recorded as receiving TANF assistance in 2000. 1990 data was not
available for these statistics, and 2010 data was not available for
the latter.
Crime data was not available for 1990,
but violent crimes increased from 1.8 per 1000 people in 2000 to 6.1
per 1000 people in 2010. During this same time, property crime
decreased, from 31 per 1000 people in 2000 to 28 per 1000 people in
2010.
For tract 40.02, the population showed
a sustained decrease over these three census periods, from 3,181 in
1990, to 2,954 in 2000, and 2,797 in 2010. The percentage of black
residents fell as well, from 18% in 1990, to 12% in 2000, and 8.3% in
2010. The percentage of Hispanic residents decreased as well, from
12% in 1990 and 2000 to 8.9% in 2010.
During the 1990 period, poverty in this
tract was measured to be 8.2%, decreasing to 5.1% from 2000 to 2009.
Unemployment decreased as well, from 3.5% in 1990 to 2.7% in 2000,
and to 2.6% in 2010. However, the number of residents receiving food
stamps increased from 29 in 2000 to 42 in 2010, and 14 families
received TANF assistance in 2000.
The violent crime rate for this tract
showed no change, staying at 12 per 1000 residents, the property
crime rate decreased, from 68 per 1000 residents in 2000, to 55 per
1000 residents in 2010.
For tract 42.01, the population showed
sustained decrease as well, from 3,714 in 1990, to 3,359 in 2000, and
to 3,342 in 2010. The percentage of black residents decreased as
well, from 26% in 1990, to 13% in 2000, and 7.9% in 2010. This trend
continued with Hispanic residents, who made up 14% of the population
in 1990, 11% in 2000, and 8% in 2010.
The poverty rate for this tract
increased during this time period, with 8.1% of residents in poverty
in 1990, 9% in 2000, and 16% from 2005-2009. 2010 data was not
available. Similarly, the unemployment rate for this tract increased
over this time period, starting at 1.8% in 1990, continuing to 2.7%
in 2000, and decreasing slightly to 2.5% in the 2005-2009 period.
Similarly, the number of residents
receiving food stamps increased from 57 in 2000 to 65 in 2010. The
number of families receiving TANF assistance increased slightly, from
15 in 2000 to 18 in 2010.
Violent crime decreased slightly over
this time period, with 9.8 crimes per 1000 residents recorded in
2000, and 8.7 crimes per 1000 residents recorded in 2010. Property
crime decreased as well, with 43 crimes per 1000 residents in 2000,
and 32 crimes per 1000 residents in 2010.
The final tract that composes Adams
Morgan is 62.02. Tract 62.02 contains the National Mall as well as
other parkland, and no demographic data is available.
Overall, about half the neighborhood
increased in population, while the other half declined. This could
simply be due to a desire for less dense living, and thus represent a
shift in population from one side of the neighborhood to the other,
or it could be due to gentrification. The fact that the black and
Hispanic populations showed a decrease over this time frame signifies
that gentrification is occurring throughout the entirety of Adams
Morgan, although in some areas this does not correlate to a decrease
in unemployment or a decrease in crime.
Interestingly, an increase in the
unemployment rate or poverty rate does not correlate to an increase
in the crime rate. This shows that the sense of community that has
developed within Adams Morgan has not necessarily been hindered by
gentrification, something that generally causes concern when a
neighborhood evolves.
