Race and Population Change: A Longitudinal Look at Cleveland Neighborhoods

This paper investigates the relationship of racial composition to neighborhood population change from 1910 to 1990 in the Cleveland metropolitan area. To better understand the long-term dynamics of urban neighborhood change, we focus our analysis upon the longitudinal relationship of race, socioeconomic status, and life cycle stage to changes in neighborhood population densities. First, we find that the more established neighborhoods of the African-American community have experienced dramatic declines in population since 1950, a pattern that represents a clear change from the earlier part of the twentieth century. Second, population loss is experienced through a variety of mechanisms, including the demolition of dwellings, the increase in housing vacancy, and the decline of household size. Third, much of this population loss should be interpreted within the context of high economic distress, occurring most frequently in older African-American communities. Over time, economic distress appears to be more important than race in and of itself in leading to the loss of neighborhood populations.     

The old-new distinction and naturalization: 1900

The author analyzes differences in naturalization baetween "old" groups of migrants coming primarily from Northern and Western Europe and "new" migrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. The primary focus is on naturalization as a measure of assimilation into the United States. Reasons for differences between the two groups are discussed     

Central City/Suburban Status Differences: Fifty Years of Change*

Changes in the relative status of central cities compared to their suburban rings are investigated for the periods 1920 to 1950, and 1950 to 1970. Longitudinal alterations in the relative statuses of the two components across metropolitan areas have primarily involved the suburban ring. Somewhat different processes of change were evident in the two time periods, particularly when metropolitan areas are distinguished by their age. In the 1920 to 1950 period, the oldest metropolitan areas evolved toward higher suburban than central city status, while newer metropolitan areas evolved toward higher central city than suburban status. In the 1950 to 1970 period, metropolitan areas generally moved toward a pattern of higher suburban than central city status, regardless of their individual characteristics such as age or period of development.     

The relationship of the crude birth rate and its components to social and economic development

Using well-known techniques of regression analysis, we decompose the crude birth rate into six analytical components, indicating illegitimacy, the marriage rate, legitimate fertility, and sex and age composition. All the components except sex structure are important in determining differences in crude birth rates across countries of the world. The model is elaborated by showing how economic development affects the crude birth rate through its basic demographic components.