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While no state has had an African American majority since 1930 (Mississippi dipped below 50% in 1940) the D.C. had a black majority between 1960 and 2010 (where it had fallen to 51% and demographers today say African Americans are no longer the majority today). I haven’t included it as the “highest” as it isn’t one of the 50 states.
The following U.S. states have had black majorities:
– Mississippi: 1840-1930 (peaking at 59% in 1900)
– South Carolina: 1820-1920 (peaking at 61% in 1880)
– Louisiana: statehood (1810)-1850 then again 1870-1890 (peaked at 59% in 1830)
A number of U.S. states came very close to a black majority:
– Alabama (48% in 1880)
– Georgia (47% in 1880)
– Florida (49% in 1870)
– Virginia (48% in 1830)
Nationally the black population peaked in 1790 (at 19.3%). It then gradually fell down to 9.7% in 1930. From there on it increased to 12.6% according to the most recent census in 2010.
While nationally the black % is increasing in most states, in some it continues to fall. Between 2000 and 2010 the black % of S. Carolina, Louisiana, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alaska, Illinois, California and Virginia fell.
Only three U.S. states are less than 1% black: Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Between 2000 and 2010 Delaware saw the biggest jump in black % (from 19 to 21%).
