Irving

Many African Americans are drawn to this city of 232,013 because of its central location, number of major corporations, transportation, shopping, dining, diversity, and affordable living. Irving is home to the second largest amount of commercial office space in the DFW area next to Downtown Dallas. Some of the corporations include Citigroup, Verizon, Nokia, and Microsoft. Just over half of all households in Irving rent and 90% of African Americans here are renters. The largest percentage of Irving’s 32,897 Black residents live in apartment complexes in West Irving and others live in north Irving’s more upscale communities of Las Colinas and Valley Ranch.

Irving is adjacent to the DFW Airport and has four freeways and one tollway crisscrossing the city. There is a major mall and more than enough shopping centers in Irving and entertainment is not too far away in Dallas or in Arlington. There is a DART commuter rail and construction is underway for the DART light rail which will take passengers to Downtown Dallas and eventually back and forth to the DFW Airport. Before Texas Stadium was demolished the city began construction on a new convention center in the Las Colinas Urban Center which when connected to the existing skyscrapers, newly developed residential and retail area will create a new destination for residents and visitors alike.

The Bear Creek Community in Southwest Irving is the oldest African American “freedmans” community in the Dallas area and the second oldest in the state of Texas. Irving has an active NAACP Chapter and the Irving Black Arts Council.

STATISTICS

Total Irving population—–232.013
Black population—–32.897 / 14%
Black median household income—–$42.342
Black married households—–23%
Percent of Blacks who have a bachelor’s degree or higher—–30%
Percent of Black households that are homeowners—–11%
Percent of Black Families in poverty—–17%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.