Diverse on Paper, Segregated in Reality

While the 98118 zip code near Seattle gained some fame in 2010 for its statistical diversity, University of Washington researchers Ryan Gabriel and Tim Thomas weren't so sure. They decided to take a closer look. Said Gabriel, "'It's a highly-diverse city in some ways, but as you kind of walk the city, you experience a real sense of separation between racial groups and class levels as well.'"

There can be cultural and economic gulfs between communities only minutes apart. From the article: "In Columbia City, for example, the researchers found the west side of the tract had lots of immigrant markets and fast food restaurants. On the predominantly white side of the tract near the bay were five-star restaurants serving $60 entrees."

In that example, even a physical barrier separated white from black, rich from poor. "A steep north-south ridge that can't be crossed by foot divides the tract. More than 78 percent of black residents life on the west side of the ridge, where most homes are run down and few new homes exist [...]"

The researchers found similar results in cities across the United States. The racial dot map, a version of which appears in the article, is an invaluable tool to appreciate finer degrees of segregation. The map uses 2010 census data and includes Hawaii and Alaska.