Near East Side, Columbus, Ohio
Encyclopedia
The Near East Side is an area made up several historic neighborhoods on the east side of Columbus, Ohio
. Some neighborhoods making up the area include: Mount Vernon
, Nelson Park, Eastgate, Beatty Park, Bexley
(annexed), Olde Towne East
, Old Oaks, Driving Park
, and Bryden Road. Today it is bordered by the Contrail railway on the north, Alum Creek
on the east, Interstate 70 and Livingston Avenue on the south, and Interstate 71 on the west. It is bisected by Main Street, also known as the National Road
. This area is in Precincts 6, 12, and 5 of the Columbus Division of Police
as well as several famous historical districts. It was home to several affluent bedroom communities during the 1880s and later. Many notable individuals of Columbus during the 19th century resided on the Near East Side. The Near East Side was a predominantly Jewish community consisting of wealthy Jewish doctors and businessmen. East High School
was built to serve the burgeoning population on the Near East Side. During the latter parts of the 20th century as other established communities experienced the growing problem of white flight
and urban decay. The Near East Side community remained strong until the 1970s and 1980s. Decline came about when many of the factories and labor type jobs with strong income began to closed in the inner-city. As they became outsourced the families dependent on that income could not maintain the same quality of life on lower income jobs.
The area is also known for an infamous public housing building called Poindexter Village.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Some neighborhoods making up the area include: Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
, Nelson Park, Eastgate, Beatty Park, Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
(annexed), Olde Towne East
Olde Towne East
Olde Towne East is a neighborhood located in the historical Near East Side of Columbus, Ohio. It is one of Columbus' oldest neighborhoods. Nestled between Downtown, Bexley, Old Oaks Historic District and Driving Park...
, Old Oaks, Driving Park
Driving Park
Driving Park is an urban residential area on the Near East Side of Columbus, Ohio just south of I-70. It neighbors many notable areas including Livingston Park, Old Oaks Historic District, Bryden Road Historic District and the King-Lincoln Bronzeville District, all with the common thread of the...
, and Bryden Road. Today it is bordered by the Contrail railway on the north, Alum Creek
Alum Creek
Alum Creek is long creek that runs north to south in central Ohio. The creek originates in Morrow County and then flows through Delaware County and finally into Franklin County, where it ends at Big Walnut Creek, which drains into the Scioto River. In 1974, the Army Corps of Engineers completed...
on the east, Interstate 70 and Livingston Avenue on the south, and Interstate 71 on the west. It is bisected by Main Street, also known as the National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
. This area is in Precincts 6, 12, and 5 of the Columbus Division of Police
Columbus Division of Police
The Columbus Division of Police is the main policing unit for the city of Columbus, Ohio. It is composed of 20 precincts, and the Chief of Police is Walter Distelzweig. Columbus is ranked the 8th most dangerous city in the United States of the 15 cities with a population of 700,000 or more,...
History
The area holds a large place in Columbus history, being home to Olde Towne EastOlde Towne East
Olde Towne East is a neighborhood located in the historical Near East Side of Columbus, Ohio. It is one of Columbus' oldest neighborhoods. Nestled between Downtown, Bexley, Old Oaks Historic District and Driving Park...
as well as several famous historical districts. It was home to several affluent bedroom communities during the 1880s and later. Many notable individuals of Columbus during the 19th century resided on the Near East Side. The Near East Side was a predominantly Jewish community consisting of wealthy Jewish doctors and businessmen. East High School
East High School (Columbus, Ohio)
East High School is a public high school located on the near east side of Columbus, Ohio at 1500 E. Broad Street. It is a part of Columbus City Schools. It was originally constructed in 1922....
was built to serve the burgeoning population on the Near East Side. During the latter parts of the 20th century as other established communities experienced the growing problem of white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
and urban decay. The Near East Side community remained strong until the 1970s and 1980s. Decline came about when many of the factories and labor type jobs with strong income began to closed in the inner-city. As they became outsourced the families dependent on that income could not maintain the same quality of life on lower income jobs.
Crime
The Near East Side has been criticized lately for being a hotspot for crime in the city. The area had 18 homicides in 2005. It is one of the leading places for murder in Columbus. Mostly gang related crimes, the Near East Side is territory for several gangs. In all other crime categories the area is either 2nd or 3rd, behind the Short North (University Area) and the west side. The Near East Side has historically been ignored by the city, but now news reports show the consequences. Some small projects are planned to help the struggling area, but more support must be shown to bring the area back to life and return it to the glory it once had - its full potential.The area is also known for an infamous public housing building called Poindexter Village.
See also
- BexleyBexley, OhioBexley is an affluent suburban city in Franklin County, Ohio. Founded as a village over a hundred years ago, the City of Bexley is an old, tree-lined suburb of Columbus, the state capital of Ohio, situated on the banks of Alum Creek next to Driving Park and Wolfe Park, just east of the Franklin...
- Driving ParkDriving ParkDriving Park is an urban residential area on the Near East Side of Columbus, Ohio just south of I-70. It neighbors many notable areas including Livingston Park, Old Oaks Historic District, Bryden Road Historic District and the King-Lincoln Bronzeville District, all with the common thread of the...
- Mount VernonMount Vernon, Columbus, OhioMount Vernon is a predominantly African-American historic neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The neighborhood lies within the historic Near East Side community. Mount Vernon borders Interstates 71 and 670. Its main thoroughfares, Mount Vernon Avenue, Long Street, Atcheson Street, and...
- Old OaksOld Oaks Historic DistrictOld Oaks is a Historic District that is located just east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. The neighborhood is bounded on the West by the homes on Ohio Avenue, on the East by the homes on Kimball Place, on the North by Mooberry Street, and on the South by Livingston Avenue...
- Olde Towne EastOlde Towne EastOlde Towne East is a neighborhood located in the historical Near East Side of Columbus, Ohio. It is one of Columbus' oldest neighborhoods. Nestled between Downtown, Bexley, Old Oaks Historic District and Driving Park...