Franklinton is a neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. Lucas Sullivant, a Virginia born land surveyor, established Franklinton in 1797. It is bordered by the Scioto River on the north and east, Harmon Avenue on the east, Stimmel Road and Greenlawn Avenue on the south, and Interstate 70 on the west[1]. West Broad Street, or US 40, is one of the country's first roads and is Franklinton's main throughway.
Franklinton is the neighborhood immediately west of downtown. It gets its colorful nickname of "The Bottoms" because much of the land lies below the level of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and a floodwall is required to contain the rivers and protect the area from devastating floods. The fertile, low-lying bottom land was ideal for farming, with the river serving as a direct connection to the Ohio River and beyond. (Just to the west of Franklinton is a group of smaller neighborhoods commonly referred to as "The Hilltop.") More recently, "The Bottoms" has been applied to describe the low socioeconomic status and comparatively high crime rate of the area.
According to the Franklinton Area Commission: