For more about the 2010 Census data.
In the past 12 years, poverty has expanded geographically in Tulsa County and deepened in areas where it already had a foothold, a World analysis of Census Bureau data indicates.
In 1999, 28 percent of the Tulsa County population lived in census tracts with poverty rates higher than the state poverty rate at the time.
Now, 34 percent of the Tulsa County population lives in census tracts with poverty rates higher than the current statewide poverty rate.
Additionally, areas of the city that were impoverished in 1999 have seen rates climb since then, the analysis shows.
The changes are found by comparing poverty rates in the 2000 Census with the latest figures from the bureau's American Community Survey, 2007-2011 estimates.
Nowhere is the concentration of poverty more evident than in one north Tulsa neighborhood.
The 2000 Census indicated 53.5 percent of the population in the tract known as 80.01 had incomes below the poverty level.
The latest figures from the American Community Survey indicate 68 percent of the population in tract 80.01 now have incomes below the poverty level.
The census tract is bounded by East 46th Street North, East 36th Street North, Peoria Avenue and U.S. Highway 75 and has a population of about 1,935 people.
While the overall population has declined by about 184 people since 2000, about 183 more people who live there have incomes below the poverty level.
A pastor whose church is in the census tract said many of the residents in the neighborhood are elderly and families who live in government subsidized single-family homes.
Lakeview Heights Baptist Church Rev. Darold Bruton says an increase in Section 8-subsidized homes in the area has likely contributed to the increase in the number of poor in the neighborhood. Tulsa Housing Authority officials say Mohawk Manor, a government subsidized apartment complex that is within the census tract, has not varied much beyond its current population of 289 residents
Shortly after coming to the church in 2005, Bruton helped launch a neighborhood watch group. Bruton said despite the continued efforts to reduce crime, the church has not been immune to neighborhood woes.
Bruton said burglaries at the church have increased as the area appeared to decline economically
In 2011, the church experienced 29 break-ins, Bruton said.
"There's nothing left in the church," Bruton said.
There were so many burglaries that thieves resorted to taking toiletry items and silverware.
This year there have been only four burglaries thus far at the church, but in one of those instances thieves stole an air conditioner, Bruton said.
Despite the setbacks, Bruton is optimistic the area can be turned around, he said.
"We are all trying in certain ways, but there's one little piece that we are missing," Bruton said. "Whatever that piece would be, it would be great to find it."
Elsewhere, other areas across Tulsa County have seen an increase in poverty rates.
In south Tulsa, in 2000, high poverty rates were largely limited to the 61st Street and South Peoria Avenue area. Today, areas with large percentages of poverty rates have expanded both north and east of tracts adjacent to 61st Street and South Peoria Avenue.
On the east side of Tulsa, the 2000 Census reported only two census tracts with poverty rates in excess of 20 percent of the population.
Today, 16 census tracts east of Yale Avenue and south of Admiral Boulevard have poverty rates in excess of 20 percent of the population.
Overall, the number of people whose income is below the federal poverty line has increased 38 percent in Tulsa County since 2000.
Steven Dow, executive director of Tulsa anti-poverty organization, the Community Action Project, said it was difficult to comment on the figures without further analysis.
Anecdotally, Dow said, CAP has experienced a lot more growth in poverty in east Tulsa over the past 10 years.
David Blatt, director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, said a different approach is needed policywise other than just hoping that the "rising tide will lift all boats."
"These data are alarming and should get the attention of anyone that thinks that Oklahoma has been spared economic hardship over the last decade," Blatt said.
"We may be seeing economic strength in certain sectors, but our prosperity has not brought enough base to be benefiting all of our residents," Blatt said.
Poverty by the numbers
|
Residents in poverty |
| Oklahoma |
586,046 |
| Tulsa County |
88,355 |
| Oklahoma County |
120,587 |
Census tracts in state: 1046
Census tracts with poverty rate greater than 20 percent: 356
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2007-2011
Curtis Killman 918-581-8471
curtis.killman@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Poverty on the rise
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