Saturday, March 17, 2001
Minorities become some areas' majority
Census shows strong presence in Hamilton County
By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In five Hamilton County communities, nonwhite residents now make up more than half of the population.
According to the 2000 census, 99.1 percent of Lincoln Heights' residents are nonwhite, one of the highest percentages in Ohio.
Also high in nonwhite residents are the village of Woodlawn, where 72.9 percent of residents are nonwhite; and the village of Golf Manor, with a nonwhite percentage of 65.8. (Map of racial shift)
The Hamilton County cities of Forest Park and Silverton also continue to be among Greater Cincinnati's most racially diverse communities, with nonwhite percentages of 63.3 percent and 54.5 percent, respectively.
Other areas with a significant nonwhite population, 20 percent to 50 percent, in Hamilton County: • Cincinnati, 47 percent.
• Springfield Township, 32.9 percent.
• Springdale, 31.6 percent.
• Lockland, 29.6 percent.
• Columbia Township, 28 percent.
• Mount Healthy, 26.3 percent.
• North College Hill, 23.8 percent.
“I would say that, obviously, this area is more diverse than it was 10 years ago,” said Edgar Richardson, author of the Greater Cincinnati International Source Book. “And 10 years ago, it was more diverse than it was in 1980. Our neighborhoods are gradually experiencing diversity.”
Signs of the changing face of Greater Cincinnati can be found all over.
In Blue Ash, Asian residents make up 6.4 percent of the Hamilton County city's population — the fourth-highest percentage of Asian residents of any Ohio city or village. In 1990, Blue Ash's Asian population was virtually nonexistent.
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DIVERSITY
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Cincinnati area's fivecommunities with highest percentage of nonwhite residents:
• Lincoln Heights, Hamilton County: 99.1 percent
• Woodlawn, Hamilton County: 72.9 percent
• Golf Manor, Hamilton County: 65.8 percent
• Forest Park, Hamilton County: 63.3 percent
• Silverton, Hamilton County: 54.5 percent
Cincinnati area's five areas with lowest percentage of minorities:
• Harlan Township, Warren County: 0.9 percent
• Washington Township, Warren County: 1.1 percent
• Terrace Park, Hamilton County: 1.1 percent
• Morgan Township, Butler County: 1.2 percent
• Tate Township, Clermont County: 1.2 percent
Source: 2000 U.S. Census
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“I can only theorize that many Asians tend to be professional in their employment, and Blue Ash tends to be a key area for professional-type employment,” City Manager Marvin Thompson said. He said Blue Ash also has upscale residential areas near its workplaces, as well as one of the highest-rated school districts in the state, in the Sycamore Community School District.
Other Southwest Ohio communities with a high concentration of Asian residents include Kenwood in Sycamore Township with 4.8 percent, Indian Hill with 3.9 percent, Sharonville with 3.8 percent and Forest Park, with 3.7 percent.
Among Greater Cincinnati's more diverse communities, Silverton's 5,178 population is 50.3 percent African-American and 45.5 percent white. Meanwhile, 56.3 percent of Forest Park's 19,463 population is black, and 36.7 percent is white.
Silverton saw an influx of mi norities in the 1960s and '70s, City Manager David Waltz said. He said many of those residents still live in the middle-class community.
“I don't believe there's been any concerted effort to encourage racial diversity here,” Mr. Waltz said. “But I do know that among most residents, there seems to be a sense of pride and community spirit about that diversity.”
Forest Park City Manager Ray Hodges said that many factors contribute to his city's diversity, including its accessible location off Interstate 275, its varied business base, the city's quality housing stock in varying price ranges, good police and public works response, and the fact that it is a planned community with many cul-de-sacs and schools built close to residential neighborhoods.
Above all, Mr. Hodges said, the city has long promoted the concept of an open and diverse community, even when it wasn't popular to do so.
“Historically, if you go way back, there were communities (in Greater Cincinnati) where African-Americans were not allowed to live,” said Carol Cornelison, village manager of Lincoln Heights. “Even if that wasn't legislatively the case, there was an understanding, and Realtors cooperated with that.”
In the early years of Forest Park's 40-year history, when real estate agents were known to direct minorities to certain communities, Mr. Hodges said Forest Park went out of its way to promote open housing.
Ultimately, supporters of diversity say the Tristate and the country as a whole need to see a population of many different origins. They note that this is the first national census count allowing for 63 racial combinations.
“Greater Cincinnati has got to stop looking at (the Tristate) as black and white,” said Cecil Thomas, director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. “The 21st century is about multiculturalism, and cities have to start looking at themselves from that standpoint.”
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