Black population decreased to 47% by the 1990s

Map of Seattle area showing the concentration of the Black population in the Central District area in 1990. Still a strong concentration of Black residents in the Central District but also many along the Rainier Valley.

U.S. Census Data for 1990 by block group shows the concentration of the Black population in the Central District is still high but many Black households had also started to move south by this time.Courtney Ross, UW Master of Urban Planning, 2020

By the 1990s, the Black population of Seattle began to leave the Central District and started to move south into the Rainier Valley. The map included here shows the concentration of Black residents by Census block group using 1990 Census data. In just the 20 years between 1970 and 1990, the concentration of Black residents in the historically redlined area changed from nearly ¾ to just under ½ of the population.

Resource: U.S. Census data 1990