This document summarizes demographic changes in Boston from 1950 to 2007 through statistics and graphs. It shows that: 1) The racial diversity of Boston increased dramatically over this time period, with the percentage of non-white residents growing from 5.3% in 1950 to over 50% in 2000. 2) The foreign-born population also increased substantially, representing over 36% of Boston residents by 2000 compared to just 7% in 1950. 3) The economy shifted from blue-collar industrial jobs to white-collar professional jobs, especially in sectors like higher education, health care, financial services, and high tech.

1. Boston’s Demographic
Revolution
The Growing Diversity of Boston
1950-2007
Haifa-Boston Learning Exchange
Professor Barry Bluestone
Dean, School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs
Northeastern University
March 24, 2010

2. The Diversity Revolution
Greater Boston Metro Area (2007)
Metro Area Population: 4,588,680
City of Boston: 599,351
Boston/Metro Area Ratio: 13.1%

3. Greater Boston Metropolitan Area

4. Greater Boston Metropolitan Area

5. Greater Boston Metropolitan Area

6. The Spatial Revolution

7. Greater Boston Metropolitan Area

8. Greater Boston Metropolitan Area

9. Greater Boston Metropolitan Area

11. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
PercentofTotalPopulation
18651870188018901900191019201930194019501960197019801990
1.2% 1.4% 1.6% 1.8% 2.1% 2.0% 2.2% 2.6% 3.1%
5.3%
9.8%
18.1%
32.2%
40.8%
%Black %Other Non-White
Minority Population - Boston
1865-1990

12. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
PercentofTotalPopulation
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
5.3%
9.8%
18.1%
32.2%
40.8%
50.5%
Black Hispanic Asian Other/Multiracial
Minority Population
Boston

13. Non-White: 50.8%

14. 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Percent
Black Hispanic White
35%
81%
5%
Percent Foreign Born Populatio
by Race & EthnicityFigure 5.13

15. 0%
50%
Percent
0-11 12 13-15 16 or more
7%
34%
23%
36%
Native Born
0%
50%
Percent
0-11 12 13-15 16 or more
29%
19% 21%
31%
Foreign Born
Years of Education
Native Born vs. Foreign Born
Figure 5.12

17. Boston By Race
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 67.9% 382,123 59.0% 338,734 49.5% 291,561
Black/African American 21.7% 122,203 23.8% 136,887 23.8% 140,305
Hispanic 6.4% 36,068 10.8% 61,955 14.4% 85,089
Asian/Pacific Islander 2.6% 14,910 5.2% 29,640 7.5% 44,280
Other/Multiracial 1.4% 7,690 1.2% 7,067 4.7% 27,906
Total 100% 562,994 100% 574,283 100% 589,141
1980
3% 1%
6%
22%
68%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
59%
1%5%
11%
24%
20
2000
5%
8%
14%
49%
24%

19. Neighborhood by Race
Allston-Brighton
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 84.8% 55,314 73.1% 51,395 68.7% 47,835
Black/African American 3.9% 2,558 6.6% 4,650 4.5% 3,110
Hispanic 4.5% 2,911 9.1% 6,413 9.1% 6,336
Asian/Pacific Islander 5.7% 3,745 10.5% 7,371 13.8% 9,611
Other/Multiracial 1.1% 736 0.6% 455 4.0% 2,756
Total 100% 65,264 100% 70,284 100% 69,648
1980
6%
1%
4%
4%
85%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
73%
1%
10%
9%
7%
20
2000
4%
14%
9%
69%
4%

21. Neighborhood by Race
Charlestown
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 97.5% 13,034 94.6% 13,927 78.6% 11,946
Black/African American 0.2% 24 0.7% 106 3.5% 539
Hispanic 0.9% 124 2.1% 310 11.6% 1,764
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.9% 124 2.1% 316 5.0% 761
Other/Multiracial 0.4% 58 0.4% 59 1.2% 185
Total 100% 13,364 100% 14,718 100% 15,195
1980
98%
0%
1%
0%1%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
95%
0%2%
2%
1%
2000
1%5%
12%
78%
4%

23. Neighborhood by Race
North Dorchester
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 67.0% 15,935 52.6% 13,186 35.6% 10,241
Black/African American 16.1% 3,825 19.8% 4,964 24.3% 7,003
Hispanic 12.5% 2,980 14.4% 3,600 14.2% 4,075
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.6% 146 6.4% 1,604 13.2% 3,788
Other/Multiracial 3.8% 903 6.8% 1,714 12.7% 3,668
Total 100% 23,789 100% 25,068 100% 28,775
1980
1% 4%
13%
16%
66%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
53%
7%
6%
14%
20%
2000
13%
13%
14%
36%
24%

25. Neighborhood by Race
South Dorchester
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 65.0% 38,410 48.0% 29,131 30.0% 19,012
Black/African American 26.9% 15,916 36.5% 22,125 41.7% 26,432
Hispanic 5.9% 3,496 10.2% 6,213 10.3% 6,493
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5% 306 3.3% 1,997 9.6% 6,066
Other/Multiracial 1.7% 995 1.9% 1,164 8.4% 5,337
Total 100% 59,123 100% 60,630 100% 63,340
1980
1% 2%
6%
27%
64%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
49%
2%3%
10%
36%
2000
8%
10%
10%
30%
42%

27. Neighborhood by Race
East Boston
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 95.8% 30,839 75.8% 24,977 49.7% 19,078
Black/African American 0.4% 121 2.1% 702 3.1% 1,177
Hispanic 2.9% 942 17.6% 5,805 39.0% 14,990
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3% 108 3.8% 1,260 4.0% 1,553
Other/Multiracial 0.5% 168 0.6% 197 4.2% 1,615
Total 100% 32,178 100% 32,941 100% 38,413
1980
0% 1%3%
0%
96%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
75%
1%4%
18%
2%
2000
4%
4%
39%
50%
3%

29. Neighborhood by Race
Hyde Park
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 84.7% 25,584 72.3% 21,686 43.0% 13,629
Black/African American 12.5% 3,772 21.9% 6,561 39.2% 12,450
Hispanic 1.7% 504 4.3% 1,303 12.5% 3,981
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5% 159 1.0% 311 1.5% 472
Other/Multiracial 0.7% 204 0.4% 124 3.8% 1,194
Total 100% 30,223 100% 29,985 100% 31,726
1980
1% 1%
2%
12%
84%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
73%
0%1%4%
22%
2000
4%1%
13%
43%
39%

31. Neighborhood by Race
Roxbury
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 8.1% 4,681 6.0% 3,524 4.8% 2,742
Black/African American 75.7% 43,743 71.2% 41,956 62.6% 35,441
Hispanic 13.3% 7,677 19.3% 11,373 24.4% 13,827
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3% 165 0.5% 267 0.6% 355
Other/Multiracial 2.6% 1,485 3.0% 1,773 7.6% 4,293
Total 100% 57,751 100% 58,893 100% 56,658
1980
0% 3%
13%
76%
8%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
6%3%0%
19%
72%
2000
8%1%
24%
5%
62%

33. Neighborhood by Race
South Boston
1980-2000
1980 1990 2000
Non-Latino White 98.5% 29,993 95.4% 28,145 84.5% 25,327
Black/African American 0.0% 15 0.9% 266 2.5% 741
Hispanic 0.5% 160 1.5% 447 7.5% 2,244
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5% 143 1.8% 522 3.9% 1,166
Other/Multiracial 0.5% 145 0.4% 108 1.6% 487
Total 100% 30,456 100% 29,488 100% 29,965
1980
0% 0%1%
0%
99%
Non-Latino White
Black/African
American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multiracial
1990
95%
0%2%
2%
1%
2000
2%4%
7%
85%
2%

34. The Industrial Revolution

35. White Collar vs. Blue Collar
Employment: Boston
Boston
1960 1980 2000
White Collar
Employment
55% 60% 69%
Managerial &
Professional
17% 30% 43%
Blue Collar & Service
Employment
45% 40% 31%
Production, Transport,
& Related
18% 10% 8%

36. Personal Service (17.00%)
Recreation (5.00%)
Professional (54.00%)Private Household (11.00%)
Repair (7.00%)
Business (6.00%)
Business (11.00%)
Repair (3.00%)
Private Household (1.00%)
Personal Service (6.00%)
Recreation (3.00%)
Professional (76.00%)
Employment in SERVICE
Metro Boston -- By Sector
1950
1990

37. Key Industrial Sectors
 Higher Education
 Health Care
 Financial Services
 High Tech/Information Services
 Defense
 Biotechnology/Nanotechnology