The Building Blocks of Atlanta: Racial Residential Segregation and Neighborhood Inequity

I conduct a case study of Atlanta's metropolitan core in order to provide a rich, detailed analysis of urban neighborhoods, and to document the persistence of racial inequalities. Using Census 2000 block group data, I examine racial residential segregation in the five core counties of Atlanta between whites and minority groups, as well as among minority groups. I find high levels of residential segregation between whites and blacks, as well as between blacks and Asians, and blacks and Hispanics; segregation is lower between whites and Asians, and whites and Hispanics. I also investigate neighborhood characteristics like percentage poverty and educational attainment in neighborhoods with different racial compositions. These results highlight the advantages found in predominately white neighborhoods compared to racially concentrated minority neighborhoods, particularly African American and Latino neighborhoods. Overall, this thesis shows that residential stratification remains a hallmark indicator of racial inequality through the opening of the twenty-first century in Atlanta. Timothy and Judy Hayes, who have supported me unconditionally throughout my life and academic endeavors. I am forever indebted to each one of you. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to thank my committee Robert Adelman, Charles Jaret, and Dawn Baunach for all of their input and assistance throughout this process. I would especially like to thank Robert for his constant positive support and guidance. I would also like to thank Hui-shien Tsao for her help preparing the dataset used in this research. In addition, I am grateful for my friends and family for their continued support.