Austin, Texas— The Most Economically Segregated Metro Area in U.S.
According to the 2015 study from the Martin Prosperity Institute, Texas’ four largest cities all rank among the most divided by income, education and occupation. This story was originally published in The Washington Post.
And unfortunately, judging by the very visible microeconomics of Austin’s urban neighborhoods this trend could be worsening.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
“Among the largest metros in the country, Austin ranks as the place where wealthy, college-educated professionals and less-educated, blue-collar workers are least likely to share the same neighborhoods”
According to The Amala Foundation, an incredible Austin-area non-profit focused on cultivating valuable cross-cultural connections, social-emotional learning, and youth volunteerism in Austin, Austin public schools were rated “intensely” segregated by the University of Texas.
Additionally, Austin is the only large city in the U.S. with a declining African-American population. Meaning, Austin is very segregated and thus, thousands of Austin’s citizens are subject to the very negative effects of segregation, which is plainly gross inequality.
WHY IT MATTERS
Inequality means that Austinites with less money face greater health risks, have less access to educational opportunities, which leads to lower earning-potential, and ultimately face greater challenges that those with money rarely experience.
“For example, high-poverty neighborhoods have fewer public services and are more likely to have fast-food chains, liquor stores and convenience stores, as opposed to healthy food grocers.” via Wash. U in St. Louis
Furthermore, inequality means that as a community, Austin is only accessing a minority of its greatest available resource: it’s people. And that means, less innovation, less music, less food, less art, and, except for the few wealthy that do benefit from inequality, just less of everything.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Austin currently holds the title for “Most Segregated Metro Area in the U.S”. And that’s not good. That’s not the type of titles we want to win, so here’s what you can do to help change this right now.
You can subscribe a minimum $5/mo to the following Austin non-profits leading the charge against segregation, from both a cultural and policy level:
Furthermore, you can take these steps to slow down neighborhood gentrification and segregation:
- Invest in ensuring quality neighborhoods that promote health with safe streets and sidewalks, access to fresh, high-quality foods and recreational green space for all in St. Louis.
- Promote development and housing choice without displacement.
- Promote the benefits of diverse neighborhoods and safeguard fair housing.
