Historic Roots of Modern Residential Segregation in a Southwestern Metropolis: San Antonio, Texas in 1910 and 2010

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the historic roots of modern segregation by comparing residential racial patterns in the city of San Antonio over time. The year 1910 is recreated for San Antonio by georeferencing and digitizing historic Sanborn maps and aligning residential structures with historical census and city directory race data for the head of household. The historical point data are aggregated to the census block level and compared to 2010 householder race data by calculating the two most common dimensions of residential segregation: evenness (dissimilarity and Theil's index) and exposure (isolation and interaction). The findings reveal that by 1910 San Antonio was already a remarkably segregated city and the original patterns of residential segregation resemble contemporary San Antonio. Particularly, residential racial segregation in the Hispanic concentrated southwestern portion of the city has increased over time resulting in an exceptionally racially divided metropolis.

Sociocultural Context and Pre-Clinical Pain Facilitation: Multiple Dimensions of Racialized Discrimination Experienced by Latinx Americans are Associated With Enhanced Temporal Summation of Pain

“…21 The racialized discrimination of Latinx individuals has deep historical roots and is institutionalized − appearing in modern practices, policies, and laws (eg, targeted deportation, restricted access to assistance services, suppression of legal rights). In Texas, despite the fact that many Mexican American families have longer histories on this land than the United States itself, 6,36 Mexican Americans continue to face high levels of institutionalized racialized discrimination (eg, segregation, 66 environmental injustice, 17,32 voter suppression 59 ), as well as interpersonal discrimination and racialized violence (most notably the deadly 2019 domestic terrorist attack in El Paso 55 ).…”

Racial/Ethnic Segregation and Urban Inequality in Kansas City, Missouri: A Divided City

“…The place stratification model is based on choices made for or against these minority groups by majority groups because of their race or ethnic origin. That is, while the spatial assimilation model is based on economics, the place stratification model is rooted in racial and ethnic prejudice (Walter et al 2017). The ethnic resurgence theory suggests that some segregation is the outcome of choices by households from the segregated group, based on race and ethnic origin.…”

Urban Inequality: The City after the 2007 Crisis

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“…Two articles look at US cities. Walter, Foote, Cordoba, and Sparks ("Historic Roots of Modern Residential Segregation in a Southwestern Metropolis: San Antonio, Texas in 1910 and 2010") [22] analyze residential segregation in San Antonio (Texas) based on racial patterns. The methodology used and the historical analysis are particularly interesting aspects.…”