Ethnic Residential Segregation: Patterns of Change

This study traces changes in patterns of ethnic residential segregation for Cleveland from 1930 to 1970 and for Boston and Seattle form 1960 to 1970. For Cleveland the data indicate some clear declines in residential segregation since 1930 for "new" southern and eastern European ethnic group; "old" groups, however, actually increased in segregation. Between 1960 and 1970, we could find few changes in patterns of ethnic segregation for Boston, Cleveland, and Seattle. On the whole, we found that differences in residential segregation among ethnic groups, both cross-sectionally and over time, were highly related to differences in social status. It is clear, nevertheless, that ethnic segregation would continue to exist even if social status differences among ethnic groups disappeared.