an economic perspective on black hartford’s history & future
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An Economic Perspective on Black Hartford’s History & Future. Diane L. Smith April 10, 2008. General Overview. Population Income Housing Education. Changes in Hartford Population. In 1950, Hartford’s Population was less than 10% black. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
An Economic Perspective on Black Hartford’s History & Future
Diane L. SmithApril 10, 2008
General Overview
• Population• Income• Housing• Education
Changes in Hartford Population
• In 1950, Hartford’s Population was less than 10% black.
• By 1990, the population was 40% black, 40% White and 20% Hispanic.
• 2006 estimates Hartford’s black population at 37%
• The city has lost more than a third of its population since 1950
Population by Race Over Time -- Hartford, Connecticut
20 000
40 000
60 000
80 000
100 000
120 000
140 000
160 000
180 000
200 000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
Year
Total
Popu
lation
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Prop
ortio
n of P
opula
tion b
y Rac
e
Hartford
%White
%Black
Concentration of Black Population 1950 -1980
Black population begins and concentrates in north end
Figure 1 Black Population 1950 Figure 2 Black Population 1960
Figure 3 Black Population 1970 Figure 4 Black Population 1980
Income DistributionMedian Income
Median Income by Race 1967-1980 United States
$-
$2,000
$4,000
$6,000
$8,000
$10,000
$12,000
$14,000
$16,000
$18,000
$20,000
Years
White
Black
• In general, median income for blacks in the US is 67% of whites from 1967 to 1980
Income DistributionMedian Income
• In 2000, Hartford median income was 46% of the state’s median. Hartford black media was just about equal to the city’s level.
• 2006 Census data estimates for CT black median income falling to 59% of whites; $70K vs. $41K
Median Household Income 2000
$-
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
CT Hartford Htfd Black Htfd White Htfd Hisp
Income DistributionPoverty
• Hartford’s poverty rate in 2006 was 32% compared to the State’s at 8%
• 26% of Hartford black population lived at poverty income levels
Poverty Rates 2006
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
CT Hartford Htfd Black Htfd White Htfd Hisp
Income DistributionPoverty Geographically - Hartford
1990 2000
Income Distribution Hartford Revenue
• Hartford receives about 46% of its annual revenues from taxes; another 45% from intergovernmental sources
• Property tax (residential and commercial) is the source of most of the tax revenue
• The state provides more than 80% of the intergovernmental funds to the city
Housing Opportunity
• Historically, blacks occupied the oldest units in the city as well as the largest developments
Distribution of Units Occupied by Non-White Heads of Household by Unit Mix
Hartford 1960
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1-unit 2 units 3-4units
5-9units
10-19units
20-49units
50+
Housing Type
HTFDTOTAL
Non-White
Distribution of Occupied Unit by Non-White Heads of Household by Year Hartford 1960
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
29- 30-39 40-49 50-54 55-58 59-60
Year Built
HTFDTOTAL
Non-White
Housing Opportunity
• In 1960, about 25% of Hartford’s housing stock had been built in the last ten years
• By 2000, only 4% of the city’s stock had been built in the last decade.
• Nearly one third of Hartford’s housing was built before 1939
Distribution of Units by Year Structure Built Hartford 1960
2%9%
13%
14%
9%
53%
59-60
55-58
50-54
40-49
30-39
29-
Distribution of Units by Year Structure Built Hartford 2000
1%1%2%7%
11%
15%
16%15%
32%99-00
95-98
90-94
80-89
70-79
60-69
50-59
40-49
39-
Housing Opportunity
• More than half of Hartford’s housing was comprised of single family units in 1960.
• By 2000 that percentage had shrunk to one fifth.
• Another on fifth of the housing in 2000 were developments of 20, 50 or more units.
Distribution of Units by Unit Mix Hartford 1960
57%
11%
11%
9%
6%4% 2%
1-unit
2 units
3-4 units
5-9 units
10-19 units
20-49 units
50+
Distribution of Units by Unit Mix Hartford 2000
19%
12%
24%
15%
9%
10%
11%
1-unit
2 units
3-4 units
5-9 units
10-19 units
20-49 units
50+
Housing OpportunityHomeownership 2000
Hartford (n) Black White Hispanic
Single family
6500% Ownership 40% 43% 19%
$93,000Median House Value $91,200 $97,400 $92,000
Education
• 41% of Hartford’s student enrollment is black.• Hartford’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders had the lowest
proportion of students meeting goals for reading in the state in the 06-07 year.
• The high school graduation rate for Hartford students 2006 was 76% compared to the state rate of 92%.
• State Dept. of Education reports 38.7% of Hartford adults don’t have a high school diploma.
EducationHartford Expenditures
• Hartford’s 2007-08 budget includes $261MM for education. A total of 51% of its general fund budget
The Challenge for Black Hartford
• Access and commitment to wealth building strategies including:– Successful schools and education– Employment opportunities that are economically viable– Homeownership opportunities
• Public policies and investment that support: – Educational infrastructure responsive to current and
future student needs– Strategic economic development including small
business development– Neighborhood revitalization
• Private interest and investment that complement public purpose