REDLINING AND EDUCATION: INVESTIGATING THE LONG-LASTING IMPACT OF HISTORICAL HOUSING POLICIES IN HENNEPIN COUNTY

Abstract

The U.S. government created the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) as part of the New Deal under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. HOLC refinanced home mortgages to prevent foreclosures and stabilize the housing market. However, its practices, particularly redlining, had long-lasting negative effects on many minority communities. HOLC's grading system, which relied on discriminatory criteria based on racial composition and economic status, marginalized communities of color. The legacy of these practices continues to shape socioeconomic conditions today, as redlined neighborhoods still struggle with lower property values, limited access to resources, and persistent disparities in education, wealth, and healthcare. These enduring effects underscore the long-term consequences of institutional discrimination, which continue to impact affected communities across generations. This study examines the lasting effects of redlining on educational attainment in Hennepin County, part of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, by analyzing decennial census and American Community Survey data. The analysis focuses on key factors at the census tract level, including socioeconomic variables such as housing, employment, and income; demographic factors like race and disability; and access to resources, including technology and transportation. Using regression models, the study identifies significant relationships between these variables and low educational attainment. The results reveal that both low educational attainment and the associated variables vary spatially across Hennepin County.