An Economic Perspective on Black Hartford’s History & Future

Diane L. SmithApril 10, 2008

General Overview

• Population• Income• Housing• Education

Changes in Hartford Population

• In 1950, Hartford’s Population was less than 10% black.

• By 1990, the population was 40% black, 40% White and 20% Hispanic.

• 2006 estimates Hartford’s black population at 37%

• The city has lost more than a third of its population since 1950

Population by Race Over Time -- Hartford, Connecticut

20 000

40 000

60 000

80 000

100 000

120 000

140 000

160 000

180 000

200 000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

Year

Total

Popu

lation

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Prop

ortio

n of P

opula

tion b

y Rac

e

Hartford

%White

%Black

Concentration of Black Population 1950 -1980

Black population begins and concentrates in north end

Figure 1 Black Population 1950 Figure 2 Black Population 1960

Figure 3 Black Population 1970 Figure 4 Black Population 1980

Income DistributionMedian Income

Median Income by Race 1967-1980 United States

$-

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

$18,000

$20,000

Years

White

Black

• In general, median income for blacks in the US is 67% of whites from 1967 to 1980

Income DistributionMedian Income

• In 2000, Hartford median income was 46% of the state’s median. Hartford black media was just about equal to the city’s level.

• 2006 Census data estimates for CT black median income falling to 59% of whites; $70K vs. $41K

Median Household Income 2000

$-

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

CT Hartford Htfd Black Htfd White Htfd Hisp

Income DistributionPoverty

• Hartford’s poverty rate in 2006 was 32% compared to the State’s at 8%

• 26% of Hartford black population lived at poverty income levels

Poverty Rates 2006

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

CT Hartford Htfd Black Htfd White Htfd Hisp

Income DistributionPoverty Geographically - Hartford

1990 2000

Income Distribution Hartford Revenue

• Hartford receives about 46% of its annual revenues from taxes; another 45% from intergovernmental sources

• Property tax (residential and commercial) is the source of most of the tax revenue

• The state provides more than 80% of the intergovernmental funds to the city

Housing Opportunity

• Historically, blacks occupied the oldest units in the city as well as the largest developments

Distribution of Units Occupied by Non-White Heads of Household by Unit Mix

Hartford 1960

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1-unit 2 units 3-4units

5-9units

10-19units

20-49units

50+

Housing Type

HTFDTOTAL

Non-White

Distribution of Occupied Unit by Non-White Heads of Household by Year Hartford 1960

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

29- 30-39 40-49 50-54 55-58 59-60

Year Built

HTFDTOTAL

Non-White

Housing Opportunity

• In 1960, about 25% of Hartford’s housing stock had been built in the last ten years

• By 2000, only 4% of the city’s stock had been built in the last decade.

• Nearly one third of Hartford’s housing was built before 1939

Distribution of Units by Year Structure Built Hartford 1960

2%9%

13%

14%

9%

53%

59-60

55-58

50-54

40-49

30-39

29-

Distribution of Units by Year Structure Built Hartford 2000

1%1%2%7%

11%

15%

16%15%

32%99-00

95-98

90-94

80-89

70-79

60-69

50-59

40-49

39-

Housing Opportunity

• More than half of Hartford’s housing was comprised of single family units in 1960.

• By 2000 that percentage had shrunk to one fifth.

• Another on fifth of the housing in 2000 were developments of 20, 50 or more units.

Distribution of Units by Unit Mix Hartford 1960

57%

11%

11%

9%

6%4% 2%

1-unit

2 units

3-4 units

5-9 units

10-19 units

20-49 units

50+

Distribution of Units by Unit Mix Hartford 2000

19%

12%

24%

15%

9%

10%

11%

1-unit

2 units

3-4 units

5-9 units

10-19 units

20-49 units

50+

Housing OpportunityHomeownership 2000

Hartford (n) Black White Hispanic

Single family

6500% Ownership 40% 43% 19%

$93,000Median House Value $91,200 $97,400 $92,000

Education

• 41% of Hartford’s student enrollment is black.• Hartford’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders had the lowest

proportion of students meeting goals for reading in the state in the 06-07 year.

• The high school graduation rate for Hartford students 2006 was 76% compared to the state rate of 92%.

• State Dept. of Education reports 38.7% of Hartford adults don’t have a high school diploma.

EducationHartford Expenditures

• Hartford’s 2007-08 budget includes $261MM for education. A total of 51% of its general fund budget

The Challenge for Black Hartford

• Access and commitment to wealth building strategies including:– Successful schools and education– Employment opportunities that are economically viable– Homeownership opportunities

• Public policies and investment that support: – Educational infrastructure responsive to current and

future student needs– Strategic economic development including small

business development– Neighborhood revitalization

• Private interest and investment that complement public purpose