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Some growth, but little change Figures for communities show population remains mostly white 03/21/2001 By Lee Zethraus / The Dallas Morning News
The 2000 census figures show the Park Cities' population grew during the last decade, but it actually changed very little.
University Park's population grew by 1,065 to 23,324. It represents a 4.8 percent increase. In Highland Park, the population grew by 103 to 8,842, a 1.2 percent increase. Both communities' populations also remained predominantly white.
According to the 2000 census, University Park's population is about 94.3 percent white, with the next-largest group being Hispanic at about 3.1 percent. The Asian or Pacific Islander group accounts for 2.2 percent of the population. Blacks represent 1.4 percent.
In Highland Park, the population is about 97.3 percent white and about 2.7 percent Hispanic. The remaining populations, each less than 1 percent, round out the total.
Although municipal officials say there has been a lot of new home building in the area during the last 10 years, the actual housing inventory has changed little. But they believe the makeup inside those houses has changed.
"Probably the household size has increased," said University Park City Manger Bob Livingston. "All of those [numbers] could be buried in the average household size. A change of 1 tenth of a person per household could make the difference. It could be the echo baby boom moving through."
Highland Park Town Administrator George Patterson agrees.
"I would say the numbers come from a fractional increase in the size of the family," Mr. Patterson said. "We've not added housing units. It could be a very small increase in family size."
Municipal officials said there have not been increases in calls for services such as water connections and garbage collection. But requests for other services have increased in the last several years, Mr. Livingston said.
"What we've seen is a constant increase in pool passes and calls for child-related activities," he said. "There is a premium on park space for [sports] practice fields. It has probably paralleled school enrollment."
According to the Highland Park school district, total enrollment has grown over the last decade. Records show total enrollment for 2000 was 5,858, compared with 1990's 4,225 students.
"The census is a snapshot in time," said Linda Adkins, spokeswoman for the district. "It wouldn't match number for number. But the enrollment has gone up steadily. Look at what we've had to do with our facilities."
Larry Groppel, the district's assistant superintendent for business services, said this appears to be the natural evolution of the area.
Realtor Lynda Adleta said her business during the last decade also supports that idea.
"Some of the cottages that had empty nesters have sold their houses," said Ms. Adleta, a partner in Adleta & Poston Realtors, which specializes in Park Cities real estate.
"A house with two people was bought, torn down and replaced with a house for a family of four or five. If there is no more land mass and no more incorporation of new areas, it's changing the size of people who are living on those lots." |
