COREY S. SPARKSP. JOHNELLE SPARKS

DEPARTMENT OF DEMOGRAPHYTHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN

ANTONIO

A Spatial Analysis of Changing Segregation Patterns in the United

States Between 1990 and 2010

Introduction

Between 1970 and 2009, black-white residential segregation declined on average across the country

Recently, Iceland and colleagues (2013) showed that within this time period, the western region of the US showed the greatest decline in black-white segregation, while the Midwest showed the lowest decline

Generally, these trends are for metropolitan areas, with no reference given to non-metro areas

Reasons for Regional Patterns of Residential Segregation

Iceland et al (2013) point out that the size of the minority population itself is often associated with higher levels of segregation Also size of the metro area This is especially seen in the NE and MW

In other areas, more multi-ethnic populations may serve as a buffer to black-white patterns of segregation Historic patterns of black population migration have also affected

the overall temporal trend in segregationAlso, patterns of economic activity and growth in

housing markets have affected segregation patterns Government, military and higher education decrease segregation Suburbanization also decreases segregation

How segregation is measured

MSA versus Place? Parisi and colleagues (2011) point out how racial

segregation can occur at many different levels of geography, not just the MSA

This is primarily because of recent trends of population decentralization into small towns and metro-fringe areas

Macro and micro segregation They go on to show how micro-segregation, or segregation

between areas within cities, only accounts for ~50% of the variation in segregation, while macro, or between place segregation is also important

They go on to point out the importance of considering segregation in smaller communities

Goals

First, we go beyond the approach used in this recent work to investigate the county-level patterns of change in residential segregation between 1990 and 2010 using the most recent decennial census data.

Secondly, we use tools of exploratory spatial data analysis and Geographic Information System (GIS) visualization to highlight areas of the country where segregation has continued to persist, despite the national trend.

Thirdly, we consider non-metro, as well as metro segregation in our analysis, and examine if the described trends hold for these areas as well.

Data

US Decennial Census Summary File 1 1990, 2000, 2010 Population tabulated by Race

Census tract level

NHGIS County Shapefile n=3109 counties, 3 time periods

Methods

Calculate two indices of segregation Evenness – Dissimilarity Index Exposure – Interaction Index

Apply Exploratory Spatial Analysis Methods Getis-Ord G* - Examine spatial clustering of high and

low values of segregation indices

Examine persistence of clustering across time Examine spatial patterns of segregation change

between 1990 and 2010

Spatial Trends in SegregationDissimilarity

Spatial Trends in SegregationDissimilarity

Spatial Trends in SegregationDissimilarity

2010 Dissimilarity G*

Spatial Trends in SegregationChange in Dissimilarity

Spatial Trends in SegregationInteraction

Spatial Trends in SegregationInteraction

Spatial Trends in SegregationInteraction

Spatial Trends in SegregationChange in Interaction

Changes in Segregation Across the Urban-Rural Continuum

Persistence in Segregation Across the Urban-Rural Continuum

Conclusions

Patterns of change Largest changes in segregation occurred in large metro

areas and small urban areas outside of metro counties Smallest changes occurred in most non-metro counties Large metros also were most likely to be persistently

segregated (D>.6) over 1990 to 2010 Most nonmetro areas were most likely to change from

segregated to desegregatedResults support propositions from Parisi and

colleagues Most pronounced changes are in areas outside of

traditional metro areas Micropolitan population changes