“Ellis Island of San Diego"

With a current population of 73,000, City Heights is increasingly brown, young and middle-to upper-income. During the past decade, the population grew by 20 percent, and the San Diego Association of Governments projects another 18 percent growth in the next three years.

In all but two census tracts, the black population fell dramatically. More than 3,700 have moved out. While low-income blacks moved out of the northeastern corner of City Heights, a large number of middle-and upper-class Asian households moved in.

All of City Heights' 16 census tracts showed a marked increase in Hispanic residents. Overall, the Latino population is growing in every neighborhood in City Heights, and of these newcomers, most are Latino families with higher incomes. "Some residents who left the community are coming back, and some are buying property as investments. Residents tell me that many owners are from out of town," says Martinez-Cosio. "The change in Latino residents suggests that the people gentrifying City Heights are predominantly upper-middle-class Latino professionals." 

Incomes are rising. City Heights' average income is $25,914, up substantially from the 1990 average of $11,020. "There's been an incredible increase in the number of people making $75,000 or more," she says. "These are the people who are finding housing."

- This information taken from research by Maria Martinez-Cosio.

For more information call (619) 849-2659 or e-mail cjr@pointloma.edu