Any potential majority Asian community areas in the future? (Chicago: 2014, neighborhoods)

[WestSideMillennial]

Out of 77 Chicago community areas, only 1, Armour Square is majority Asian. Will that ever change, why or why not?

[Master Jay]

WestSideMillenial, well SURE. The Asian population seems very present in neighboring Bridgeport! And THAT is probably just the start of it!

[Master Jay]

I agree with WestSideMillenial. Every year I go to visit one of my favorite parts of town, the Croatian and Sicilian area near 28th and Princeton, I see less of a Sicilian presence and more Asian presence.

It is what it is.

[WestSideMillennial]

Originally Posted by Master Jay

WestSideMillenial, well SURE. The Asian population seems very present in neighboring Bridgeport! And THAT is probably just the start of it!

Agreed! I've noticed Bridgeport & Mckinley Park growing with Asian Population. To my surprise, I've noticed a trend in Douglas also. I wonder how far South East & West the population is headed?

[garyjohnyang]

I agree with Master Jay that Bridgeport is the most likely candidate. Already more than 40% Asian and growing (pre-COVID). That being said COVID definitely put a damper on immigration and worsened the US’ image in China. So, it might take a little longer than anticipated, but long term I think Bridgeport will definitely push past 50%.

I think a more realistic threshold to set, and one that might be a more interesting conversation, is which community areas can cross 25% Asian. Going by CMAP numbers, McKinley Park averaged just below 25% from 2014 to 2018 and is likely higher than that now. Similarly The Near South Side averaged 21% Asian from 2014-2018, which seems to have been driven by a lot of the new construction in the South Loop. The Near West Side was at 19% (tech boom, anyone?) and the Loop proper was at 17%.

It seems most likely that the next communities to get to this number will be Chinatown/Loop-adjacent. There are a few exceptions - West Ridge, where Devon Ave is, was 22% Asian; but I’m not sure if that community is growing at all as it has been well-established for several decades now and seems to be poaching businesses to the suburbs. Other exceptions: Hyde Park and Douglas around the university campuses. But once again, COVID has thrown a wrench in things and there’s no telling when the international student population in these areas will fully recover. Lastly, Albany Park on the N side is making steady gains again after years of decline in its Korean population.

EDIT: this NPR article has a visualisation of which neighborhoods are gaining the most Asians. https://www.npr.org/local/309/2019/0...-size-and-race

[Manson Lamps]

I'd think West Ridge is too diverse to see an outright Asian majority, at least in the the foreseeable future. I don't see Douglas or Bronzeville getting there either frankly.

[Master Jay]

WestSideMillenial, good morning!

And true, up until recently, McKinley Park has had a significant Hispanic population, and Douglas an African-American population?

[Master Jay]

Manson Lamps, good morning. And good call on your observation.

I guess I was originally thinking of an EAST Asian population when I read WestSideMillenial's post.

But you are correct: Indian/Pakistani, etc. are categorized as ASIANS as well. And there is definitely a large population in the West Ridge area. I'm not sure the Jewish population is going to relocate, as they have shared that area, I believe since beginning in the 1970s or 1980s...

Also, I do not think the Vietnamese population in the Argyle area is going to explode and predominate in that area.

[Master Jay]

garyjohnyang, good morning.

I think your analysis on Covid is correct, as Covid has slowed MANY things down, especially the business growth!

My understanding is that Bridgeport has been a rather well known Irish community. I don't know too much of an anti-Asian sentiment from that community.

[Manson Lamps]

morning Master Jay. Regarding Argyle...no. While the Vietnamese community may dominate the commercial strip of Argyle between Broadway and Sheridan as well as a block or two up and down Broadway, they're nowhere near a majority or even plurality (including any other Asian groups) when considering who actually lives around there.