“The New York City Marathon course has changed little since it first wound its way through all five boroughs in 1976. But the neighborhoods along the route have seen significant change: they are mostly richer and the ethnic makeup of many of them has shifted.” See interactive map and graphs at: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/11/05/nyregion/the-evolving-neighborhoods-along-the-marathon.html
Today was the running of the 35th Marathon in New York City through the five boroughs [*]. The city has certainly changed substantially since 1976, and this graphic portrayal of the ethnic and economic shifts along its route is emblematic of those changes. It is probably the case that ANY 26-mile route cutting through all five boroughs would yield similar findings of fairly drastic socio-demographic change, but this route happens to be the “face” of NYC for the runners from many different countries as well as millions of viewers around the world. There are big demographic changes in areas that gentrified over the past three decades, but also very visible changes in the landscape and land uses themselves due to said gentrification.
[*] Earlier Marathons in NYC – 1970-1975 - did not follow this 5-borough route, but basically just looped around Central Park.
Thanks to Kristen Grady for sending me the link to the interactive map.
Non-Hispanic White Population along Marathon route, 1980 and 2009
Non-Hispanic Black Population along Marathon route, 1980 and 2009
Puerto Rican Population along Marathon route, 1980 and 2009
Mexican Population along Marathon route, 1980 and 2009
Asian Population along Marathon route, 1980 and 2009
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