Where Demographic Trends Tilt More White in Seattle

"South Seattle is by far the most racially diverse area of the city, one that has welcomed many immigrant communities over the years. And unlike North, Central and West Seattle, the South End was the only part of the city where white people did not make up the largest racial/ethnic group," writes Gene Balk.

Note the past tense, because white people are now the largest racial/ethnic group on South Seattle, according to recent Census data. That plurality isn't yet a majority, but the trend is clear, according to Balk.

"This change in the South End is, of course, largely a story of gentrification," explains Balk. "Many neighborhoods in Seattle have felt the effects of gentrification in recent years, including those in South Seattle. Light rail opened here in 2009, which made the South End a more attractive location to downtown commuters. As you’d expect, the cost of living has gone up a lot."