Changing neighborhoods, shifting connections: mapping relational geographies of gentrification using social media data

New sources of ‘big data’ are regularly described as revolutionizing the study urban life. Of particular interest is analyzing gentrification, which has proven a challenging endeavor with conventional methods. Big data may offer new approach to persistent problem defining and measuring while also allowing us rethink broader questions about theory methodology in geography. Using geotagged Twitter data, we demonstrate how changing geographies users’ tweets proxies for evolving social spatial contours neighborhoods. We use case Lexington, Kentucky analyze mobilities relational connections neighborhood residents visitors gentrification intensified over time. argue that these kinds big allow an analytical focuses on dynamic, between people places, provides useful, additional avenue understanding process complex multifaceted gentrification.