Hilltop, Columbus, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hilltop is a neighborhood on the west side of Columbus, Ohio, so named because it sits atop a rise that slopes down into the Scioto River. It borders on Franklinton, and Westgate. The "Greater Hilltop Area" (as defined by the City of Columbus), includes Westgate and is bounded by I-70 on the north, I-270 on the south, the western city limits on the west, and the railroad track just west of Harrisburg Pike/Central Avenue/3C. Hilltop includes ZIP Code 43204, ZIP Code 43223, and ZIP Code 43228. Its main thoroughfare is West Broad Street (U.S. Route 40), upon which two welcome signs for the neighborhood sits (one near I-70 and one near Wilson Road).

1 History
2 Community
3 Crime
4 Notable people from Hilltop
5 External links
6 Other references

[edit] History

The Hilltop was originally known as Sullivant's Hill, and was donated to the city of Columbus by the Sullivant family who had originally settled there. Sullivant Avenue is now a major road in the area. Hilltop was once the site of the Columbus State Hospital for the Insane. Groundbreaking for the massive, Victorian structure was presided over by then-governor Rutherford B. Hayes in 1870; construction took an additional seven years to complete. The hospital remained in service until the late 1980s, despite falling into severe disrepair. It was demolished in 1997 to be replaced by a new Ohio Department of Transportation facility. Four patient cemeteries still exist in Hilltop.

[edit] Community

It is in Precinct 10 and 19 of the Columbus Division of Police. The area is home to some of the most active block watch groups in the state.^{[citations needed]} These groups meet regularly, often have area clean ups, participate in community action groups, and coordinate other area events. ^{[citations needed]}

[edit] Crime

The Columbus Police Department in 2006 dubbed The Hilltop as one of the two most dangerous areas in Columbus according to WBNS 10TV.^{[citation needed]} It is home to the most homicides the past two years in Columbus for a single area.^{[citation needed]} The common feeling is that the reasons for these troubles stem from the drug culture, as well as the gang problems there. Also, most of the neighborhood lives in poverty.

The latest incident bringing mass attention to the Hilltop was when a man was beaten to death outside of a Hilltop business. The incident was filmed, and the alleged killers are now on trial.

On December 2, 2006, Nationwide media attention was further focused on the Hilltop a when 14-year-old boy who was throwing eggs at cars along with two other teenagers was shot and killed by someone who had been in a sport utility vehicle hit by the eggs.[1]