ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF HISPANIC AND BLACK SUCCESSION IN CHICAGO, 1970-1980 (ECOLOGY, POPULATION)

This research examines and compares the invasion and succession process for Hispanics and blacks in the city of Chicago using 1970-1980 Census tract data. I examine the effects of 1970 area compositional, social, and economic and geographic characteristics on subsequent Hispanic and black population change. The analysis of population change for these two groups has two components. In the first, I examine the general ecological trends associated with Hispanic and black population change in order to determine the characteristics of areas that experienced Hispanic invasion and succession and the characteristics of areas that experienced black invasion and succession. In the second part of the analysis I examine Hispanic and black population change as change which proceeds in a series of stages in order to show what 1970 tract characteristics distinguish those tracts which did not experience stage change from those that did experience some type of invasion and succession process between 1970-1980.;It was found that for period 1970-1980, at least at the tract level, invasion and succession proceeds differently for blacks and Hispanics. In particular, complete succession was not as likely in tracts invaded by Hispanics as it was in tracts invaded by blacks. The results of this research present tentative support for the argument that the invasion and succession process as originally formulated may have to be modified to reflect continuing changes in the overall ecological dynamics of cities.