Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	315		—
1850	500		58.7%
1860	1,421		184.2%
1870	4,063		185.9%
1880	4,636		14.1%
1890	7,607		64.1%
1900	8,974		18.0%
1910	15,083		68.1%
1920	21,603		43.2%
1930	23,047		6.7%
1940	22,405		−2.8%
1950	26,161		16.8%
1960	28,362		8.4%
1970	26,547		−6.4%
1980	24,322		−8.4%
1990	23,376		−3.9%
2000	23,253		−0.5%
2010	22,322		−4.0%
2019 (est.)	21,446		−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 censusedit

As of the census of 2010, there were 22,322 people, 8,631 households, and 5,232 families living in the city. The population density was 2,502.5 inhabitants per square mile (966.2/km2). There were 10,022 housing units at an average density of 1,123.5 per square mile (433.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.6% White, 10.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 8,631 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.4% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 35.3 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

2000 censusedit

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,253 people, 8,908 households, and 5,665 families living in the city. The population density was 2,700.1 people per square mile (1,042.7/km2). There were 9,730 housing units at an average density of 1,129.8 per square mile (436.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.51% White, 11.19% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 8,908 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,078, and the median income for a family was $37,011. Males had a median income of $31,033 versus $20,063 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,185. About 12.7% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.