Who We Are: A census snapshot of Central Virginia

Charlottesville’s black population has declined steadily since 2001, while the numbers of Asians and Hispanics have grown in both the city and Albemarle County, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The city has seen overall increases in its white and Hispanic populations during the last seven years. The white population in 2007 was 29,797, up from 29,395 the year before and 28,313 in 2000. For Hispanics, the population climbed to 1,397 in 2007, up from 1,330 in 2006 and 1,022 in 2000.

The Asian population, meanwhile, dipped slightly in 2007, from 1,953 in 2006 to 1,919, after increasing each year between 2003 and 2006.

The city’s black population decreased by 756 in the last seven years, whereas the county’s black population increased by 757. From 2006 to 2007 alone, the city saw its black population fall by 171, from 8,763 to 8,592.

Qian Cai, research coordinator for the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, said that it is difficult to identify a specific cause for the decline in the black demographic.

“It’s really hard to comment on whether the black population are moving out or they’re giving fewer births or fewer black people are moving in,” Cai said. “There could be a number of reasons for that.”

But city Mayor Dave Norris believes that the main reason is gentrification. The decline, he noted, has been a trend since the 1960s, with the beginning of urban renewal in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood, a once predominantly black area.

“That was a very important and painful moment for the history of the African-American community,” Norris said. “From that day forward, a lot of African-Americans have felt that Charlottesville is not a welcoming community.”

The problem is not Charlottesville-specific; many cities nationwide face the same dilemma, according to Norris.

“It’s a positive thing that people are moving into cities,” Norris said, adding that not too long ago, affluent people tended to avoid urban areas. “We don’t want to gentrify ourselves beyond recognition and lose a very important aspect of our country and our culture.”

Councilor Holly Edwards cited the 10th and Page neighborhood as another area that was once mostly black and has now become primarily white.

“It is most certainly a concern because what makes the city vibrant is diversity,” Edwards said.

Charlottesville had a net increase of 1,116 people in the last seven years. The upward trend continued between 2006 and 2007, with the total population climbing from 41,002 to 41,228.

According to Cai, fluctuations in college towns such as Charlottesville are normal because the Census data includes college students living in dormitories. It also counts prisoners incarcerated in local jails.

“Charlottesville is a special case,” Cai said. “The estimates do seem to fluctuate [while the population] tends to be more or less stable.”

Albemarle County had growth in all demographics from 2006 to 2007, continuing a trend since 2000. The county’s Asian population has dramatically increased by 1,529 since 2000, an average growth rate of 7.28 percent per year.

The county’s Hispanic population has increased by 1,229 since 2000. Although the figure is less than the county’s Asian population increase, the Hispanic population is growing at a quicker rate.

The group grew by about 56 percent during the last seven years, an average rate of 7.99 percent per year.

The county’s overall population has increased by 8,506 people since 2000, an average growth of 1.43 percent per year — significantly less than the 2.35 annual growth rate the county saw between 1990 and 2000. From 2006 to 2007, the growth rate was 1.02 percent, giving the county a total population of 93,117.

“If you look at average annual rates, we have seen a slowing from prior to the year 2000,” county spokeswoman Lee Catlin said. “We don’t really have a strong indicator that says, ‘This is the reason why it’s slowing down.’”

Fluvanna County is the fastest growing locality in Central Virginia over the last seven years, with an increase of 5,113 people, or 25.29 percent.

Between 2006 and 2007, its population grew by more than 500 people, to 25,329, for a growth rate of 2.02 percent.

Louisa County came in second in terms of growth rate since 2000, with a 24.04 percent increase. In 2007 its total population was 31,961, up from 31,044 the year before.

Buckingham County has grown the least in the last seven years, adding only 319 people to its population since 2000. From 2006 to 2007, its population grew by 25 people, from 15,907 to 15,932.

Cai cautioned that the data are simply estimates and not an actual count.

To collect the data, the Census Bureau officials examine birth and death records and migration.