The census data shows some very interesting trends about the area surrounding Bills Cyclery LLC in Jackson Heights. Currently, it is an extremely densely populated area with 82,742.5 people per square mile and is also very diverse with 38% of the population being caucasian, 44% being asian and 10% identifying as other. All this data reinforces what we know already about Jackson Heights from visiting the area. However, it’s interesting to note that the area was not always so populated or diverse.
In the 1800s, the population density for the area was only 42 per square mile. It increased to 318.5 per square mile in 1890s, but that number is still miniscule compared to the population today. Also, instead of being diverse, in 1800 the population was 82% caucasian. That number only increases to a whopping 97% white in 1890s. This data is very surprising, only if you think about the diversity of Jackson Heights today, but it makes sense from a historical point of view. The reason is because most of the Asian and Hispanic people who live in Jackson Heights had not immigrated to the country in the 1800s. Most of the immigrants entering the United States in the 1800s were white.
From the year 1900-1930, the population density per square mile stayed under 10,000 but there is a significant jump in the year 1940 with the population density per square mile being approximately 36,000. This may have something to do with America leaving the Great Depression and entering World War 2. The area in this time period has also not gotten any more diverse. It went from being 97% white in 1890 to 99.7% white in 1940. The majority of the population will continue to be white up to the 1980s. In 1950, the population density per square mile doubled to 72,000. The reason for this may be because of the economic boom caused by World War 2 and the end of the second World War. Surprisingly, the decade of the ‘50s is the highest it will be in the 20th century. A reason for the decrease in population may be because of the fact that a lot of other ethnic groups will begin to enter the neighborhood in 1980.
In the 1980s, the percentage of caucasian people in the area decreased in half from 99% in 1970s to 47% in the 1980s. A lot of people of Spanish origin came to live in the area (37%) and even today a lot of Spanish people live in Jackson Heights. This trend of the population of white people decreasing while the population of other ethnic groups increases continues up to present day.
There is no way of being able to tell from the census tract what caused the movement of other ethnic groups into the neighborhood of Jackson Heights or what caused the movement of caucasian people out. However, the census tract shows some interesting trends to study further, such as why did the race change drastically from 1970 to 1980 or why was Jackson Heights most populated during the 1950s. This census tract also gives a great idea of what Bills Cyclery LLC was like when it first opened up in the early 1900s. Most of the customers who shopped there were caucasian, and since the area was not densely populated it makes sense that most people would travel by bike. Also, since cars were still relatively new, most people probably used bikes as their method of transportation. All in all, this census tract does a great job highlighting some interesting trends to study further. It also gives a great look into what Bills Cyclery was like when it first opened up.
