Demographics
In early 2007, Oakland's population reached 415,492. In the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 399,484 people, 150,790 households, and 86,402 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,126.6/mi² (2,751.4/km²). There were 157,508 housing units at an average density of 2,809.8/mi² (1,084.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 35.66 percent African American, 23.52 percent White, 0.66 percent Native American, 15.23 percent Asian American, 0.50 percent Pacific Islander, 11.66 percent from other races, and 4.98 percent from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.89 percent of the population.
The US Census Bureau 2005 estimates show 31.00 percent African American, 26.10 percent White, 0.60 percent Native American, 16.40 percent Asian American, 0.90 percent Pacific Islander, 14.00 percent from other races, and 4.80 percent from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.00 percent of the population.
The African American population has been shrinking since the mid-80s, while the Latino population has been growing. Oakland is one of the most ethnically diverse and integrated cities in the country.
Out of 150,790 households 28.6 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0 percent were married couples living together, 17.7 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7 percent were non-families. 32.5 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.38.
An analysis by the Urban Institute of U.S. Census 2000 numbers showed that Oakland has the third-highest concentration of gays and lesbians among the 50 largest U.S. cities, behind San Francisco and Seattle. Same-sex couples are 2.94 times as likely to live in Oakland as in the typical American city, the Urban Institute analysis found. According to the same study, Oakland has the nation's largest population of lesbian couples.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0 percent under the age of 18, 9.7 percent from 18 to 24, 34.0 percent from 25 to 44, 20.9 percent from 45 to 64, and 10.5 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,055, and the median income for a family was $44,384. Males had a median income of $37,433 versus $35,088 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,936. About 16.2 percent of families and 19.4 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9 percent of those under age 18 and 13.1 percent of those age 65 or over.
Though substantial gains have been made as evidenced from the Uniform Crime Reports published by the FBI, the city still ranks high in California for most categories of crime. In the 2006 Morgan Quitno crime rankings, Oakland is ranked the eighth most dangerous city nationwide and the second most dangerous in California. In 2006, Oakland had 148 murders, slightly more than San San Francisco the highest amount in ten years and the third highest amount since the early 1990s. The murder rate increased 57 percent from only 94 murders in 2005. The highest peak was 175 homicides in 1992—which was at a time when an average of 160 murders a year occurred in the 1990s (1999 saw the lowest count at 68). The majority of the crimes being committed occur in the flatlands of the city in between I-580 and I-880. Besides homicides, Oakland has significant problems with other crimes of violence and property crimes.
Oakland recorded 47 homicides during the first six months of 2007, nine of them during the last week of June alone, compared with 63 slayings during the same period in 2006. There was an increase in the number of rapes and aggravated assaults during the first half of 2007.
Current mayor Ron Dellums is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
