The population of Hilltop City is only a fraction of what it was a few decades ago. This has an impact on a number of aspects of everyday life. For starters, fewer residents mean fewer customers for neighborhood businesses, leading to the closure or relocation of some businesses. Secondly, fewer residents mean fewer opportunities for socialization and interaction. This in turn creates a sense of social and economic isolation among residents. Ultimately, the reduction in population density is a direct result of residents moving out of the area and abandoning many vacant homes and vacant lots. As a result, the West Side has been left with an environment of blight and disinvestment.
The focus area for this report lies within the yellow-dotted area on the map, approximately delineated by 24 census block groups. The section is based on historical and current data and combines this information with the experiences of Hilltop residents to provide a more complete picture of the neighborhood.
Historically, the Hilltop area was a streetcar suburb. The streetcar service from downtown Columbus served many residents, and a hilltop residence could escape the hustle and bustle. The city's first streetcar was introduced in 1863. Electric streetcars followed in 1891, and ran on West Broad Street from the Columbus State Hospital to the Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital. In recent years, the city has been undergoing urban reinvestment. Residents are starting to return to the neighborhood, and two commercial corridors are promising opportunities to expand the city's economy.