Existing Conditions-Demographics | Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor

The site of The New Landing Mall lies at a major hub of transit and activity along Troost and the 63^rd St. Corridor. It is surrounded by several diverse neighborhoods. When we examine data from the census and American Community Surveys, the demographic differences between the census tracts on the east and west sides of Troost become very obvious. In the year 1950, the population of all 6 census study tracts were approximately 99% white residents. Within a few decades, a dramatic shift had taken place as a result of events such as blockbusting and “white flight.” By the year 1980, the population west of Troost had remained over 90% white, while the population west of Troost was made up of 56% white in Tract 87, 20% white in Tract 81, and only 6% in Tract 80. This graphic clearly represents the stark difference in the racial makeup that exists on each side of Troost Ave. in the present day.

Racial Makeup

Figure 1. Orange dots represent “white alone” population, blue represents “black alone” population. Map Courtesy of Ryan Deeken

Income

As well as a difference in race, we can observe a substantial difference in median family and household incomes in our study tracts as well. The tracts west of Troost have both median family and median household incomes that are significantly higher than the study tracts on the east. The study tracts on the east, however, are much more in line with that of Kansas City as a whole.

Education

There seems to be a strong correlation between levels of education obtained and median incomes. Within the tracts that exist east of Troost less than 47% of people over 25 years old received college degrees or partial college education. Comparatively, within the tracts west of Troost, the over-25 population had achieved much higher levels of education. Between 48% and 87% in Tract 86 had some college education and in Tracts 83 and 82, up to 93% of the population had at least some college education.

Age

The is an interesting difference in age makeup within the populations east and west of Troost. The tracts west of Troost have a higher percentage of residents in the 25-35year age cohort and the tracts east of Troost have a higher percentage of younger residents, age 15-24years old. All 6 census study tracts as well as Kansas City and its metro as a whole, are experiencing an increase in aging population. The age cohorts over 65 years old currently make up more than 12% of the population.