3.1 Race and Ethnicity
African American/Black is the largest group with 54%, followed by white at 24% and 22% Hispanic/Latinx. However, field observations suggest that Hispanic/Latinx is a larger group than our survey documented. Latinx residents were less likely to participate in the research because of fear of enforcement and other barriers.
Figure 6. Race and ethnicity distribution of Springville residents.
3.2 Gender and Age
Among survey participants, males are the largest gender group, at 67%; 33% are female. Middle-aged people (40-59) comprise 48%, followed by older adults (60+) at 41%. Only 9% are younger than 40. This data suggests the community is a haven for middle-aged and older adults seeking stable housing.
Figure 7. Gender distribution of Springville residents.
Figure 8. Age distribution of participants.
3.3 Recent Migration Patterns and Community Attachment
The survey provided insights into longitudinal trends of migration into Springville and residents’ attachment to the community. Notably, of the 46 participants, more than 60% relocated to Springville from 2000 to 2023, a significant influx over these two recent decades. A smaller proportion, 26%, settled in between 1970 and 2000. Thirteen percent have lived in Springville since before 1970. The fact that people continue to migrate into the community indicate its dynamic nature but there is also a core of about 39% of participants who have lived there for at least two decades. Furthermore, some tenured residents have deep historical roots via their connection to Springville’s founding members.
Figure 9. Length of residence in Springville.
3.4 Lots and Buildings
3.4.1 Ownership Status of Lots
More than half of residents, 55%, reported owning their lot, while renters represent 48% of the survey population, and 4% are squatters. We add a caveat about ownership data as represented in survey interviews: many residents understood the questions to be about ownership of their housing unit rather than the lot itself. Therefore, the ownership level may be lower. Furthermore, because of the lack of clean land titles due to its history and unincorporated status, ownership of many of the lots is uncertain. Residents of informal subdivisions and other unincorporated communities across the US do not have formal written documentation of land ownership (Ward, de Souza, and Giusti 2004; Way 2010; Olmedo and Ward 2016). Thus, contracts for deeds are customary, and the lack of adequate financing obscures the valid owner of the lot.
Figure 10. Ownership status of Springville lots.
Figure 11. A Springville dwelling.
3.4.2 Resident Use of Buildings
Forty-one percent of Springville’s occupied lots are used for both residential space and informal businesses. These lots serve as places where people live and also engage in activities related to self-sufficiency or subsistence practices (scrapping, informal businesses, etc.). Additionally, 37% of the lots are used solely for residential purposes and 22% exclusively for informal businesses.
Figure12. Resident use of buildings in Springville.
Also see Figure 14: Research team’s bottom-up map of Springville land use.