Pew Study Finds Racial Diversity Of Philadelphia On The Rise
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia is a far more diverse city than it was 20 years ago. That's the conclusion of a study just out from the "Philadelphia Research Initiative" of the Pew Charitable Trusts.
The study compared 1990 census data by zip code to the 2010 data and, frankly, if you get around the city at all, its conclusions probably mirror your observations.
There are fewer whites, more Hispanics and Asians, and with only a modest boost in its numbers the black population is less concentrated than it was 20 years ago.
Larry Eichel, the project director, says one corner of the city is especially changed.
"The Northeast, in 1990, was 92 percent white. Now it's 58 percent white and it has much larger populations of African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians than it did 20 years ago," he tells KYW Newsradio.
Eichel says the report doesn't suggest any policy implications but provides new reasons to check old assumptions at the door before grappling with the city's issues.
Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio 1060
