¶ … Neighborhood as Community: Scarsdale, New York
With a per capita income of $113,000, a median household income of $230,750, a median sales price of a single-family home of $1.34 million and one of the leading school districts in the state, the Village of Scarsdale is a relatively exclusive suburb of New York City that has a poverty level that even other affluent communities envy. Using an ecosystems perspective, this paper provides a review of the literature as well as online government resources to describe the demographics, available social networks, income and wealth distribution, an assessment of the educational resources, housing, health and welfare issues, as well as formal and informal control systems. An ecosystems perspective merges general systems theory and ecology to provide insights concerning the interactions between individuals and various aspects of their social environment (Tangenberg, 2009) to determine adaptations of the neighborhood over time, the interface of the neighborhood with the adjoining areas, the demographics of current residents and the capacity of the neighborhood to meet the changing needs of the population. A summary of the research and important findings concerning these issues and Scarsdale are presented in the conclusion.
Review and Analysis
Demographics
In 2006, Scarsdale's population stood at 17,886 (Brenner, 2008); by 2010, the population had dropped slightly to 17,166 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). The Village of Scarsdale has White Plains to the northeast, Greenburgh to the northwest, Mamaroneck to the southeast, and New Rochelle and Eastchester to the south/southwest (see political map at Appendix A) (Brenner, 2008). A breakdown of Scarsdale's most recent demographic estimates is provided in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Demographic breakdown of Scarsdale, New York
Category
Scarsdale
New York State
Population, 2010
17,166
19,378,102
Persons under 5 years, percent, 2010
5.7%
6.0%
Persons under 18 years, percent, 2010
33.7%
22.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2010
13.9%
13.5%
Female persons, percent, 2010
51.3%
51.6%
White alone, percent, 2010 (a)
82.7%
65.7%
Black or African-American alone, percent, 2010 (a)
1.5%
15.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, 2010 (a)
Z
0.6%
Asian alone, percent, 2010 (a)
13.0%
7.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, 2010 (a)
Z
0.0%
Two or More Races, percent, 2010
1.9%
3.0%
Hispanic or Latino, percent, 2010 (b)
3.9%
17.6%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, 2010
79.5%
58.3%
Living in same house 1 year & over, percent, 2007-2011
92.0%
88.5%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2007-2011
21.4%
21.8%
(a)
Includes persons reporting only one race.
(b)
Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 at http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/3665431.html
As can be seen from the demographic breakdown in Table 1 above and depicted graphically in Figure 1 below, Scarsdale is a predominately white (but with a sizable Asian population), middle-aged, upper middle-class community.
Figure 1. Racial breakdown of Scarsdale, New York
Source: Scarsdale, New York (2013) at http://www.city-data.com/city/Scarsdale-New-York.html
Available social networks within the neighborhood
Formally established as a municipality in 1788 (Scarsdale history, 2013), the Village of Scarsdale has a long history of social networks. For instance, Scarsdale's first neighborhood association, the Heathcote Association, was established in 1904 as well as the Neighborhood Association and the Town Club (the predecessor of the Town and Village Civic Club) that year (Scarsdale history, 2013). Following the end of World War I, the Scarsdale Woman's Club was organized and a year later, in 1919, this social network began publishing the prizing-winning newspaper, The Scarsdale Inquirer which remained in publication for 40 years (Scarsdale history, 2013). Two years later, a Scarsdale chapter of the League of Women Voters was established and collaboration on a regular basis with the Public Affairs committee of the Scarsdale Woman's Club (History of Scarsdale, 2013).
Today, other social networks exist for parents with children and a wide range of recreational and extracurricular educational and avocational programs are offered in the community (Brenner, 2008). In addition, according to the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale, "Many residents have given and continue to give their time and talents to serve Scarsdale by accepting positions as Mayor, Village and School Board members and as leaders of over 80 organizations" (History of Scarsdale, 2013, para. 4). There are also formal social networks in place for senior citizens in Scarsdale sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation, including "Terrific Tuesdays -- a Scarsdale Senior program of trips, lectures, and 'get-togethers' on Tuesday mornings" (Senior adult programs, 2013, para. 2).
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