1.0Sightline Institutehttps://www.sightline.orgClark Williams-Derryhttps://www.sightline.org/profile/clark-williams-derry/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="cmYgUWCdWB"><a href="https://www.sightline.org/2012/12/07/the-most-diverse-zip-code/">The Most Diverse Zip Code?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.sightline.org/2012/12/07/the-most-diverse-zip-code/embed/#?secret=cmYgUWCdWB" width="600" height="338" title="“The Most Diverse Zip Code?” — Sightline Institute" data-secret="cmYgUWCdWB" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://www.sightline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/98118.png348551The 98118 zip code has earned a reputation as a delightfully diverse zip code. And it's easy to see why: a stroll down the streets of a neighborhood like Columbia City or Othello reveals a mosaic of cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, and languages. It's a zip code where you might find a southern barbecue joint, an Asian grocery, and an east African restaurant, all cheek to jowl on the same commercial strip. A few years back, though, someone started circulating the idea that 98118 wasn't merely somewhat diverse, but actually ranked as the most diverse zip code in the entire U.S. The press lapped it up. KOMO TV covered it as established fact; so did AOL News. Even today, an internet search for "most diverse zip code" points straight to 98118. Most of the stories emphasize not only the zip code's diversity but also its friendliness, verve, and general awesomeness---suggesting that the South Seattle neighborhood might serve as a something of a model for a steadily diversifying nation. Yet while 98118 is undoubtedly a cultural kaleidoscope, it struck me as a bit surprising that it ranked as the most diverse place in the country, ahead of melting pot neighborhoods in one of the many US cities---New York, L.A., Miami, Houston---that are far less homogeneous than Seattle. And it turns out that there's good reason for doubt.