Delmar Divide facts for kids
The Delmar Divide is a term used to describe Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. This street acts like a dividing line, showing big differences in who lives where, based on race and how much money people have. A short film by the BBC helped make this idea well-known. Delmar Boulevard runs from east to west, starting in Olivette, Missouri and going into the City of St. Louis. There's a busy shopping area called the Delmar Loop where University City and St. Louis meet. People call Delmar a "divide" because the neighborhoods right next to it are very different. For example, in 2012, about 73% of people living south of Delmar were white, while 98% of people living north of Delmar were Black. These areas also have different levels of income, cultures, and public services.
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How Segregation Started in St. Louis
In 1916, during the Jim Crow Era, St. Louis tried to pass a rule about where people could live. This rule said that if 75% of people in a neighborhood were of one race, no one from a different race could move in. However, the NAACP (a group that fights for civil rights) challenged this rule in court, and it did not last.
After that, people started using "racial covenants" on homes. These were agreements that stopped houses in certain areas from being sold to people who were not "Caucasian" (white). In 1948, the Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer said these covenants were against the law.
During the 32 years these rules were in place, an area called The Ville (north of Delmar) became the main neighborhood for Black middle-class families.
In 1954, St. Louis decided to rebuild an area called Mill Creek Valley, which was a Black neighborhood south of Delmar. When the rebuilding started in 1959, Mill Creek Valley was torn down. New projects like an addition to Saint Louis University, Highway 40, and new housing were built there. Most of the families who lost their homes moved to The Ville or other areas north of Delmar.
To help the families who were displaced, the St. Louis Housing Authority built more public housing north of Delmar. This continued into the 2000s. These changes made Delmar Boulevard a clear dividing line for race and income.
Understanding the Differences
Studies and numbers help us see the Delmar Divide more clearly. The U.S. Census Bureau looked at the populations around Delmar Boulevard in 2014.
| Main Race | Average Home Value | Average Income | People with College Degrees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North of Delmar Blvd | 99% Black | $73,000 | $18,000 | 10% |
| South of Delmar Blvd | 73% White | $335,000 | $50,000 | 70% |
The Delmar Divide shows bigger segregation issues in St. Louis. Many studies have looked at how separated people are in St. Louis.
How Segregated is St. Louis?
A study by the Manhattan Institute looked at segregation in U.S. cities. It used two ways to measure how separated people are:
- Dissimilarity index: This shows how much different racial groups live apart. A higher number means more separation.
- Isolation index: This measures neighborhoods where the racial makeup is very different from others.
In 2010, St. Louis was ranked as one of the most segregated cities in the U.S. It had a dissimilarity index of 71.0 (the fifth highest) and an isolation index of 53.8 (the sixth highest). This means many people would need to move for neighborhoods to be more mixed.
Poverty and Opportunity
A study by Washington University and Saint Louis University found that communities with more African American residents often have higher rates of poverty. This study also noted that St. Louis ranks low (42nd out of 50 big cities) in how likely a child is to move up the social and income ladder. It also found that the value of homes for Black families often went down, while it went up for other families.
You can even see this data on an interactive map. It uses the 2010 census data, showing one colored dot for each person based on their race.
Changes and Challenges Along the Divide
Starting in the early 1900s, St. Louis was one of the few cities that actively supported local rules about where people could live. One author, Colin Gordon, wrote that a "fear of Black families moving in" led to groups pushing for rules that separated races. This also led to school segregation. These early actions set up the challenges St. Louis still faces today.
Urban Renewal and Its Effects
In the 1970s, big city rebuilding projects tried to bring wealthier people back downtown. They also aimed to get rid of the "worst slums," which were mostly in the northern parts of the city. However, these efforts often failed. They left many areas "blighted" (rundown and empty).
Many of these failed projects were in North St. Louis. This is one reason why there's such a big difference between the areas north and south of Delmar.
Banking and Loans
In the late 1990s, a major bank that gave loans to minority groups, Boatmen's, was in trouble. In 1993, Boatmen's Bank promised to lend a lot of money to all communities, including minority ones. They even won awards for helping minorities in St. Louis. But after another bank, NationsBank, bought Boatmen's in 1996, many of these loan programs were stopped. This especially affected the area north of Delmar.
Even though areas north of Delmar are in a good location and have cheaper housing, they haven't seen much new building or people moving in. Neighborhoods north of Delmar are still recovering from past problems. You can often see empty buildings and lots there.
Differences in Income and Education
A 2014 report by Washington University and St. Louis University looked at the wealth gap along the Delmar Divide. It found that it takes the average Black family 228 years to save as much money as the average white family. Also, the money earned from education is very different, with a gap of up to $50,000 between Black and white families.
Another study noted that while poverty in St. Louis suburbs is low, areas like Ferguson (north of Delmar) have much higher poverty rates. Federal housing help in the city is often placed in areas that are already separated by race. This means many Black families are unfairly kept out of certain neighborhoods. These differences mean that families with lower incomes and people of color are mostly found in certain areas. They suffer more from the unfair way resources are spread out.
Education Resources
The article "Segregation in St. Louis" also points out that schools in the northern part of Delmar Boulevard have very few resources. This lack of resources makes it harder for students to succeed in school. It also keeps them from connecting to the main economy. Schools get most of their money from the people living in their district. Since most families north of Delmar have limited money, it's very hard to get enough support for schools in that area. This makes the gap in education even wider.
