Buckhead Shows Population Gains in 2010 Census

Buckhead led the city in population increase in the 2010 census, according to an analysis by city planner Jessica Lavandier.

Lavandier, the planner for NPU-B, told the group last week that NPU-B showed a 22.4 percent population increase, growing by 8,647 people to a total of 47,292. Although most census tracts in the NPU gained people, two at the south of the lost people.

The city is preparing the challenge the census results that showed the entire city with a population of 420,003, an increase of only 3,539 people. According to Lavandier's report, the 2009 Census Bureau population estimate showed a city population of 540,922, a difference of 120,919. The Department of Planning and Community Development, working with Mayor Kasim Reed's office, is reviewing census data to prepare a possible appeal, she said.

The 2011 numbrs contain a basis for the challenge: the city was shown to have a 37,648, or 20 percent, increase in housing units, to 224,573. Of 185,142 occupied housing units, almost 45 percent are owner occupied and 55 percent renter occupied.

Here are a few toher facts from her analysis:

• The median age of the city's population is 32.9, an increase from 31.9 in 2000. Almost 40 percent of the population is between 20 and 39 years old.
• 54 percent of the population is African-American, 38 percent white, 2.5 percent Native American or Pacific Islander, 5.2 percent Latino or Hispanic and 2 percent other races.
• NPU-B is 75 percent white, 12.3 percent black, 5.3 percent Asian and 6.8 percent other. In addition, 9.5 percent is of Hispanic origin.
• NPU-A increased by 387 people, 3.4 percent, to 11,687.
• NPU-C added 1,923 people, reaching 18,122.