GENTRIFICATION IN DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

2000 2014BY KIRSTIE WHITE

INTRODUCTIONWith Davidson County’s rampant population growth and economy, the topic of gentrification is often extremely controversial. Gentrification is defined as the “process by which middle-class people take up residence in traditionally working-class areas, changing the character of a city 1”. Growing up in Davidson County, I have seen the consequences of this process. While economic growth is not inherently bad, it tends to displace low-income families. With this prosperity, some even argue that Nashville is losing its soul 2.

METHODS •  To obtain the data, I used census tract data from the U.S.

Census for the years 2000 and 2014 to create a comparison •  Using ArcGIS 10.0, I then used that data to create choroplethic

maps to represent the various characteristics that are factored into my gentrification risk analysis

•  For the analysis, I used a raster conversion, then a slice reclassification, and then a raster calculation to find the areas that were most likely to undergo or are currently undergoing gentrification RESULTS

•  High risk areas: Lockeland Springs, East Nashville, the

Twelve South, Wedgewood, and Lafayette Street neighborhoods

•  Medium high risk areas: Bellevue, Madison, SoBro, Green Hills, and the Gulch.