Evanston has become more diverse in recent years — with some traditionally under-represented groups increasing — while the city’s historically largest population groups have decreased.
Since 2000, the percentage of Hispanics in Evanston has grown from 6 to 11 percent, while the percentage of non-Hispanic whites has declined from 63 to 60 percent and the percentage of non-Hispanic blacks has fallen from 22 to 17 percent.
Meanwhile the percentage of Asians has increased from 6 to 10 percent.
The proportionate decline has been greater for non-Hispanic blacks than for non-Hispanic whites, and what to do about that has become a campaign issue in the race for 5th Ward alderman.
It also led this week to leaders of 21 community groups sending a letter to city officials seeking creation of an Evanston Citizens Equity Advisory Board to assist the new equity and empowerment coordinator the city is in the process of hiring.
The letter cited the declining black population but made no mention of the decline in the non-Hispanic white population or the increases in Hispanic and Asian residents.
The letter decries “historical and current processes of segregation and discrimination that have undermined not only opportunities but even the long term viability of communities of color in the city.”
Compared to the state of Illinois as a whole, Hispanics in Evanston remain substantially under-represented, and non-Hispanic whites are slightly under-represented.
Blacks still comprise a larger share of the population in Evanston than in the state as a whole, while the Asian population is substantially larger in Evanston than in the rest of Illinois.
Dramatic changes have taken place in the composition of the population of other communities in recent years as well.
As just one example, Evanston’s neighbor to the west, Skokie, has seen its Hispanic, Asian and non-Hispanic black populations grow substantially, while its non-Hispanic white population has decreased dramatically.
So What
This would mean a lot more if it was tied to Evanston’s population by each group for the years selected.
I’m not saying that your data is incorrect, It shows exactly what your title says, “Evanston is becoming more diverse”.
There is a lot more that can be done with the data you provided. One thing that Evanston can do with one new hire. What Evanston does not need is another committee.
So what?
Hi Bweb,
Actually, I think it would be harder to follow if done your way. Percentages are better for expressing the change in the composition of a group over time.
But, since you asked, the total population of Evanston has grown 1.8 percent over the 15 year period.
It was 74,239 in 2000; 74486 in 2010, and was estimated at 75,603 in 2015.
Evanston’s population growth rate has been slower than that of the nation as a whole in recent years, but faster than that of Illinois, as Evanston Now explored recently in this story.
— Bill