FROM ELLIS ISLAND TO THE QUEEN CITY: IMMIGRATION GEOGRAPHY AND CHARLOTTE IN THE 21 ST CENTURY

Transcription

1 FROM ELLIS ISLAND TO THE QUEEN CITY: IMMIGRATION GEOGRAPHY AND CHARLOTTE IN THE 21 ST CENTURY Owen J. Furuseth, Ph.D. Associate Provost for Metropolitan Studies and Extended Academic Programs; and Professor of Geography The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Senior Scholars at Queens University of Charlotte February 27, 2015

2 Outline 21 st century immigration geography in the U.S. Traditional vs. New Immigrant Gateway model Charlotte s immigrant landscape: issues and policy implications affecting immigrant integration 2

3 America s 21 st Century Demographic Frame , U.S. population growth (48%) 438 million 82% growth immigrants and their descendants Foreign-Born Population in 2011 Mexico (29%) India (4.6%) Philippines (4.5%) China (4.1%) Vietnam (3.1%) El Salvador (3.1%) Korea (2.7%) Since 2000, Hispanics account for 50.5% overall population growth in the U.S. 3

4 Hispanic Population Geography in North Carolina, 2010 Three Settlement Models - Military Base Counties (1970s-1980s) - Rural-Agricultural Counties (1980s-present) - Urban Counties (1990s future) 4

5 Future Trend: Hispanic North Carolinians are Urban County Hispanic Population Mecklenburg (1) 111,944 (24.9%/19.1%) Wake (2) 87,922 Forsyth (4) 41,775 Durham (6) 36,077 Guilford (3) 34,826 Cumberland (5) 30,190 Johnston (13) 21,814 Union (10) 20,967 Onslow (12) 17,896 (50.4%/39.8%) Statewide 800,120 (8.4%) Source: U.S. Census of Population,

6 Charlotte s Demographic Transformation *2012 American Community Survey Estimates, 1-year. 6

7 Rise of New Immigrant Gateways: Why Charlotte? Economy - growing service-based economy - need for workers across occupational spectrum - Bank of America phenomenon (early 1990s turning point) Landscape of Opportunity - entrepreneurship encouraged - year-round employment - female employment opportunities Welcoming - little immigration history or experience = less prejudice - expansive labor market - immigration non-political issue 7

8 Recent Hispanic Migration Streams to Charlotte Rural to urban migration (Southern roots) - slowing in rural manufacturing and labor intensive agricultural work - broader opportunity base in urban areas Out-migration from traditional immigrant gateways (New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami/Tampa, Chicago) - economic opportunities - globalizing business - discrimination and political tension over immigration - declining quality of life Direct international immigration - poverty, social and political exclusion, lack of access to mechanisms for upward mobility, etc. push people to leave place of birth 8

9 Classic Immigrant Settlement Geography (The Chicago School) Immigrant Gateway Cities key entry points for people and goods moving into the U.S. Immigrants settle in the poorest and least desirable neighborhoods Immigrants settle in the City Center close to job opportunities Immigrants are attracted to pre-existing immigrant communities Urban immigrant settlement leads to ethnic enclaves 9

10 21 st Century Immigrant Gateways: New Settlement Model New gateway cities rapidly growing, new economies, interior locations Little or no immigration traditions Suburban settlement housing costs, job location, successional change Highly diffused immigrant populations 10

11 Pre-emerging Immigrant Gateways: Southern Style Charlotte s Latino Settlement Geography Middle-Ring Suburban Housing Markets - low density 1960 s-1970 s urban landscape - succession-replacement processes - white white/black white/black/brown Stage 1: multi-family housing, invisible populations Stage 2: single-family housing, incipient place-making Stage 3: place identity ( Settling In processes) Poly-nucleated suburban clusters - incipient barrios (community/places) - socially and ethnically distinctive - divergent development trajectories 11

12 Charlotte Latino Settlement Clusters North Charlotte Hispanic/Latinos: 8,887 (20.8%) Mexican Ancestry: 58.0% Foreign-Born: 61.7% Non-Citizen: 57.7% Median Household Income: $33,153 (89.2%) < Poverty Level: 17.3% Homeownership: 26.0% Southwest Charlotte Hispanic/Latinos: 17,729 (24.0%) Mexican Ancestry: 39.8% Eastside Charlotte Hispanic/Latinos: 29,197 (24.1%) Mexican Ancestry: 52.2% Foreign-Born: 59.6% Non-Citizen: 54.3% Median Household Income: $32,193 (86.6%) < Poverty Level: 27.1% Homeownership: 25.6% Foreign-Born: 70.1% Non-Citizen: 65.6% Median Household Income: $35,657 (95.9%) < Poverty Level: 26.2% Homeownership: 19.3% 12

13 Urban Social Geography: Place Identity and Place-Making Processes International Main Streets (Central Avenue and South Boulevard) Multi-cultural Charlotte (food, entertainment and arts, shopping, entrepreneurship) Ethnic businesses, signage, and activity spaces challenge native Southern place Barrio (ghetto) imagery constructed Salad Bowl suburbs ( 13

14 Implications and Trends for Charlotte Immigrants are positive agents of change - revitalization of business and residential districts - maintenance of property values - growing entrepreneurial activity - supporting global business activity Immigrants create problems - costs of service provision - job competition - ethnic and racial tensions - spaces and places of identity 2005 Mayor s Immigrant Study Commission 2013 Immigrant Integration Task Force 14

15 Questions? Presentation is available at: 15