2010-2014 Consolidated Plan - City of Champaign

compared to the remainder of the City. Areas containing a high concentration of minority households aredepicted in the green colors on this thematic map (Exhibit 2). Areas 1, 4, 8, and 9 also contain slightlyhigher concentrations of minority households than do the remainder of the planning areas in the City. Asindicated on these two maps, the low/mod areas and the areas of higher minority concentration areclosely aligned.Population Growth and CompositionThe population in the City of Champaign has steadily increased over the past century. The City’spopulation grew most rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s with an increase of 26,281 persons between1950 and 1970. Since the 1970s, population has been growing at a slower rate, most likely attributed toslower birth rates and smaller family sizes which occurred after the “baby boom” era. The totalpopulation of the City increased by 6% between 1990 and 2000, growing from 63,502 people in 1990 to67,518 people in 2000. The population growth rate parallels the City’s geographic expansion and thegrowth of housing units. Factors contributing to the City’s population growth include the growth of theUniversity of Illinois, in-migration, annexation, and new housing development.Figure 2-1: Population by RaceNumber of People6000050000400003000020000100000W hite Black Asian Other Hispanic1990 2000Source: U.S. Census, 1990 and 2000There is a diverse mix of racial and ethnicgroups within the City of Champaign.According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the City’sracial composition is as follows: 73% white,16% black, 7% Asian, and 4% Hispanic.While the white population continues to bethe predominant racial group, its proportionhas decreased slightly for the past severaldecades. At the same time, other minoritygroups, especially Asian and Hispanic, aregrowing at a rapid pace. Between 1990 and2000, both groups have more than doubled.Age Characteristics and TrendsAge characteristics and trends are considered in the neighborhood analysis, particularly because someage groups may have unique service needs. For example, there may be a need for special programs foryouth under age 18 or seniors over age 65. In 2000, 12,011 persons in the City were under the age of18, 49,829 persons were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 5,678 were 65 and older. By 2000, 26%of the City’s population was either under 18 or over 65 years of age. Of the total population, 18% wereunder the age of 18, 8% were 65 and older, and the remaining 74% were between the ages of 18 and64.The citywide median age, averaging 24.2 years old over the past four decades, reflects the presence ofthe University of Illinois’ student population residing within the City. In 2000, 32% of the City’s totalpopulation was 18-24 years old. Of the 21,409 people in that age group, 73% lived in Planning Area 3,the University District.The City’s population of persons age 18 and under declined between 1970 and 1980, but has increasedslightly every 10 years since then. In 1990, there were 11,659 persons, or 18% of the total population,under the age of 18. Although the total number of persons under 18 in the City increased to 12,011 by2000, they continued to represent 18% of the City’s total population of 67,518.8 Housing Market Analysis