Census Report Shows Changing Face of Summit

Summit, you are bigger, more diverse, and — except for a big group of fourth-graders — older.

According to a presentation this week from Chris Cotter, the 2010 census figures show that the city grew by 1.5 percent, to 21,457 residents. Cotter said the population gain appears to have come from a greater influx of Asians (1,368) and Hispanics (2,851) residents. The city’s African-American population (970) has slowed its growth, while the white population (17,926) has declined. 

The demographic changes in Summit mirror shifts in the state overall. According to Cotter, Summit’s census figures will have no effect on the state’s redistricting efforts, which begin next week. “Nothing will change based on our census numbers,” he said.

Council members Thomas Getzendanner, Richard Madden and Mayor-Elect Ellen Dickson were on hand for the meeting, which was organized by Council President Dave Bomgaars.

In other news from the presentation, the report shows the median age of residents is 39.7 — up a whopping 2.5 years — from the last census, while showing that Summit residents 85 and older grew by 20.5 percent in the last 10 years. Dickson attributed part of that bump to the concentration of seniors living in the complex on Springfield Avenue.

Cotter cautioned that the community rally around these senior citizens who live alone, without assistance. “That's where we've seen an increased risk of fire fatalities over the course of the past 10 years,” he said. “The profile is an elderly female living alone.”

The data shows that Summit is considered a family town, with families comprising 5,517, or 71.6 percent, of total households. The average family size is 3.29 people. There are 3,132 households, or 40 percent, with kids younger than 18. According to the report, there is a population spike in the other end of the demographic spectrum, with 399 10-year-olds representing the largest group among school-aged children in the city. On the whole, young people from 5 to 19 years old increased to 19.40 percent of the population, or 1,013 young people in 2010. Perhaps a result of the aging population in the city, the number of children younger than five decreased by 24 percent to 1,462, down from 1,815 in 2000.

“This parlays into our school capital spending, with additional classrooms, the need for full-time kindergarten, and things of this nature," said Madden, the council’s finance chairman. "We really have to look very closely to see if these trends continue. There could be substantial money involved in capital projects as well as operating budgets,” he said.

According to Dickson, the census surge in children represents people moving to Summit to give their children access to .

“That’s why you see that big spurt,” she said. “They consistently underestimate the school population,” she said about Board of Education planners. Later in the meeting, however, she did suggest that the public schools do a good job of handling any increase in the school population.

For at least one council member, the data on how people live in Summit came as a shock. “The most unique statistic that I see is on the household rental front,” said Getzendanner. “I’m really surprised that 31 percent our housing stock is not owner-occupied, but renter-occupied,” he said.

“When people come to Summit, they assume that we are primarily an owner-occupied town.”

Cotter called the number “fairly consistent” over the years. The rate of rentals, he said, could help in the city’s bid for a with the state.

“It certainly can’t hurt that we have that percentage of rental opportunities, one would think that would be looked upon favorably.”

A Census 2010 financial report for Summit will be presented early next year. 

Here's a look at some of the key findings in the Census 2010 presentation by City Administrator Chris Cotter:

• If you're 41 years old, there are strength in numbers. You and your 435 peers add up to the largest age group — and men outnumber the women, 233 to 203.
• There were 2,543 people 65 and older. Despite the jump in residents 85 and over, it would appear that this drop of  20.5 percent could represent a spike in "snowbird" gains for warmer-weather states.
• Senior citizens 85 and older have increased by 20.5 percent. There are 138 residents 90 and older.
• More women: 10,904 women and 10,553 men live in Summit.
• Race and ethnicity: For every 100 Summit residents, 83.5 are White, 13.3 are Hispanic, 6.4 are Asian, 4.5 are African-American.
• Summit includes 1,368 people of Asian descent live in Summit.  This group had the largest percentage increase in the city and grew by 31 percent, or 427 people.
• Of the 2,851 city residents who identified themselves as Hispanic, 348 say they are Mexican, 279 say they are Puerto Rican, 122 identify themselves as Cuban, while 2,100 labeled themselves as "other".