| Metropolitan Area Residents |
| 1980: | 231,000 |
| 1990: | 258,060 |
| 2000: | 293,000 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 13.5% |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 137th |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 133rd |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 141,654 |
| 1990: | 137,560 |
| 2000: | 131,510 |
| 2003 estimate: | 127,573 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | −4.4% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 158th |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 129th (State rank: 3rd) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 182nd |
| Density: | 1,759.5 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 51,108 |
| Black or African American | 75,072 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 303 |
| Asian | 1,997 |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander | 92 |
| Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race) | 2,938 |
| Other | 1,224 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 66.5% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 9,186 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 5,163 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 9,423 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 10,139 |
| Population 20 to 24 years old | 12,653 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 19,419 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 18,027 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 15,260 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 5,656 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 4,717 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 8,503 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 6,582 |
| Population 85 years and older | 2,382 |
| Median age | 32.3 years |
| Births | (2003) |
| Total number | 4,222 |
| Deaths | (2003) |
| Total number | 4,205 (of which, 77 were infants under the age of 1 year) |
| Money income | (1999) |
| Per capita income | $16,921 |
| Median household income | $29,038 |
| Total households | 51,378 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 8,842 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 4,794 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 8,815 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 6,956 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 8,359 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 7,241 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 3,399 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 1,678 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 448 |
| $200,000 or more | 846 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 17.7% (54.6% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 11,595 |
