Black population plummeted in New Orleans’ highest-ground neighborhoods
Over the last two decades, the Black share of the population dropped the most in some of New Orleans’ highest-ground neighborhoods, which have been heavily gentrified since Hurricane Katrina.
Elevation relative to mean sea level (meters)
5m+ below
sea level
0
5m+ above
sea level
LA
ORLEANS
PARISH
ORLEANS
PARISH
Lake Pontchartrain
3 miles
Lake
Borgne
New Orleans East
Lower
Ninth
Ward
Uptown
Change in share of population by census tract,
2000-2019 (percentage points)
-50
-25
0
+25
+50
Black population
Areas with higher elevations saw large declines in Black population. One tract in the Irish Channel neighborhood went from 74% Black in 2000 to 71% White in 2019.
White population
Elevation relative to mean sea level (meters)
5m+ below
sea level
0
5m+ above
sea level
LA
ORLEANS
PARISH
ORLEANS
PARISH
Lake Pontchartrain
3 miles
Lake
Borgne
New Orleans East
Lower
Ninth
Ward
Uptown
Change in share of population by census tract,
2000-2019 (percentage points)
-50
-25
0
+25
+50
Black population
Areas with higher elevations saw large declines in Black population. One tract in the Irish Channel neighborhood went from 74% Black in 2000 to 71% White in 2019.
White population
Elevation relative to mean sea level (meters)
5m+ below
sea level
0
5m+ above
sea level
ORLEANS
PARISH
Lake Pontchartrain
3 miles
Lake Borgne
New Orleans East
Gentilly
Lakeview
LA
Lower
Ninth
Ward
French
Quarter
ORLEANS
PARISH
Uptown
Change in share of population by census tract, 2000-2019 (percentage points)
-50
-25
0
+25
+50
Black population
White population
Areas with higher elevations saw large declines in Black population. One tract in the Irish Channel neighborhood went from 74% Black in 2000 to 71% White in 2019.
Elevation relative to mean sea level (meters)
5m+ below
sea level
0
5m+ above
sea level
ORLEANS
PARISH
Lake Pontchartrain
3 miles
Lake Borgne
New Orleans East
Gentilly
Lakeview
LA
Lower
Ninth
Ward
ORLEANS
PARISH
French
Quarter
Uptown
Change in share of population by census tract, 2000-2019 (percentage points)
-50
-25
0
+25
+50
White population
Black population
Areas with higher elevations saw large declines in Black population. One tract in the Irish Channel neighborhood went from 74% Black in 2000 to 71% White in 2019.
