Geography of a Mixed-Race Society

• Published in: Growth and change Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 565 - 593
• Main Authors: CLARK, WILLIAM A.V, MAAS, REGAN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Malden, USA : Blackwell Publishing Inc 01-12-2009; Blackwell Publishing Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Biraciality; California; Cultural Pluralism; Empirical research; Ethnic Groups; Geography; Immigration; Metropolitan Areas; Minority & ethnic groups; Mixed race; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Multiracial people; Neighborhoods; Neighbourhoods; Race; Residential areas; Residential Patterns; Social Integration; Studies; Urban areas; United States > US; California; USA, California
• ISSN: 0017-4815; 1468-2257
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2257.2009.00501.x

The pattern and level of separation among ethnic groups continues to change, and there are certainly more mixed neighborhoods both in cities and suburbs than two decades ago. The immigration flows of the past decade have substantially altered the ethnic mix and neighborhood mixing. In addition, multi-ethnic individuals themselves are altering the level of mixing among racial and ethnic groups. The research in this article shows that those who report themselves of more than one race have high levels of residential integration both in central cities and suburbs. These residential patterns can be interpreted as further evidence of tentative steps to a society in which race per se is less critical in residential patterning. The level of integration, for Asian mixed and black mixed is different and substantially higher than for those who report one race alone. The research in this article builds on previous aggregate studies of mixed-race individuals to show substantial patterns of integration in California's metropolitan areas.