Urban Geography Trends in Baltimore Research Paper

The Hispanics have also migrated away from their more sparse locales in the city to increase the population in the Hispanic southeast corner of the city, still living with a majority of whites (Hispanic 2000).

Using this information we see that residential differentiation, especially between whites and blacks, has become more intense, sharpening the lines between the races in the residential communities of Baltimore City. Perhaps because of this increased intensity, we also notice a difference in the varying economic neighborhoods. Those with a higher household income continue to be located in the same geographic location as before, but now their average household income has decreased, and the racial demographics in the varying economic statuses is more clear (Income 2000). The areas of higher income are located in the most northern part of the city, where the highest population of whites is also, while the areas of lower income are located in the central section and have grown into the western and northwestern neighborhoods with the average decrease in household income from 1990 to 2000.

The impact of segregation on any area can create some negative effects, and according to Camille Zubrinsky Charles, racial segregation may be to blame for the decline in the economic status of blacks in Baltimore City. She argues that "where we live affects our proximity to job opportunities," and whoever is concentrated in areas where conditions are poor would be unlikely to find a job that would pay enough to support a family (168). The inner-city is just such an area with poor conditions, and according to the maps from 1990 and 2000, as the population of blacks in the central section of the city increased, the economic status of the residents there (the blacks) decreased. Therefore, the segregation of the various communities has impacted Baltimore in such a way as to put whites and Hispanics out of harm's way on the periphery of the city, while the blacks are left to bear the brunt of the economic conditions eroded from a decade past.

In order to combat this issue, Baltimore City officials would be wise to address the issue of segregation. Instating programs to make housing around Baltimore more accessible to those who cannot afford it may be one solution. Another solution may be renovation projects for the inner-city area to bring life and wealth to the inner-city blacks who live there. Whatever path officials choose to take, their commitment to blurring the lines between the races in Baltimore City is sure to have positive economic, social, and societal impacts.

Works Cited

Charles, Camille Zubrinsky. "The Dynamics of Racial Residential Segregation." Annual

Review of Sociology. 2003: 167-207. Annual Reviews. 2003. JSTOR. 12 Dec 2010.

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Median Household Income in 1989: 1990. Map. Baltimore: Census Tract, 1990.

Median Household Income in 1999: 2000. Map. Baltimore: Census Tract, 2000.

Percent of Persons Who are Black: 1990. Map. Baltimore: Census Tract, 1990.

Percent of Persons Who are Black or African-American Alone or in Combination With One or More Other Races: 2000. Map. Baltimore: Census Tract, 2000.

Percent of Persons of Hispanic Origin (of any race): 1990. Map. Baltimore: Census Tract, 1990.

Percent of Persons Who are Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2000. Map. Baltimore: Census

Tract, 2000.

Percent of Persons Who are White: 1990.…