The Hilltop (Columbus, Ohio)

Indigenous and early settlement

The first inhabitants of the area were Native Americans, whose presence is evidenced throughout the region. The hill that gave the neighborhood its name, along with the surrounding fertile land, made this a desirable location for early settlement.^[4]

Lucas Sullivant arrived in the area in 1795 and became one of the first men to hold a deed to this land. Sullivant himself chose to reside in the Franklinton area, granting approximately 1,600 acres to his sons, who became the first landowners in what would become The Hilltop. The land remained within the family for over a century, passing from heir to heir.^[3]

Farming and the National Road

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, The Hilltop remained a largely rural landscape, with farmers cultivating corn, clover seed, and hay while raising livestock. The construction of the National Road—later known as West Broad Street or U.S. Route 40—in the 1830s was the first major development to transform the area.^[4] This thoroughfare quickly became home to notable landmarks such as the Four-Mile House and the Jaybird Hotel.

Camp Chase and the Civil War

One of the most historically significant features of The Hilltop is Camp Chase, a Union military staging and training camp established in May 1861, shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War. Named after then-Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, the camp's boundaries corresponded roughly to present-day West Broad Street (north), Westgate Avenue (west), Hague Avenue (east), and Sullivant Avenue (south).^[5] Over the course of the war, more than 150,000 Union soldiers passed through Camp Chase. The facility also functioned as a prisoner-of-war camp; by February 1865 it held over 9,400 Confederate prisoners—making it among the largest such facilities in the North.^[5]

Four future U.S. Presidents passed through Camp Chase: Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and William McKinley.^[5] The camp closed in July 1865, and its buildings were gradually dismantled. The land was later redeveloped as a residential and commercial area known as Westgate.

The Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, established in 1863 on the southern border of the camp, is the sole surviving above-ground remnant of Camp Chase. It contains the graves of 2,260 Confederate soldiers.^[5] The Confederate Soldier Memorial arch was dedicated in 1902. Camp Chase is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hilltop Historical Society now sponsors an annual memorial service at the cemetery each June.^[5]

Columbus State Hospital

The Hilltop was also once home to the Columbus State Hospital for the Insane, constructed in 1870. Bordered by Broad Street to the south and Wheatland Avenue to the west, this imposing structure followed the Kirkbride Plan—a 19th-century architectural philosophy designed to provide patients with "air and sunlight" as part of their treatment.^[6] Similar in design to the Athens Lunatic Asylum but significantly larger, the hospital along with the Columbus State Institute employed nearly 450 people, many of whom lived in The Hilltop.^[4] The hospital closed in the 1980s and was demolished in 1997. The site is now occupied by offices of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Department of Transportation.^[6]

Early 20th century growth

The early 20th century marked The Hilltop's transformation from a farming community into a thriving urban neighborhood. Residential subdivisions began to emerge around the Columbus State Institution, and new streets were laid along former rural roads. A streetcar line connecting High Street to the Columbus State Hospital accelerated urban growth, and businesses blossomed along West Broad Street. By 1900 the neighborhood counted over 2,000 residents, primarily young families.^[4]

This era also saw The Hilltop become home to many prosperous African-American families who owned land used for farming and other entrepreneurial activities. One notable example is the Carter family, who migrated from Virginia to Ohio and, between 1900 and 1940, raised eleven children—many of whom became civic leaders in Columbus, Dayton, and beyond. Among the most distinguished were Mary Carter Glascor and her brother Judge Russell Carter, both graduates of The Ohio State University who went on to earn advanced degrees, including from Harvard University.^[7]

After the devastating flood of 1913, The Hilltop's established infrastructure enabled it to absorb a large influx of displaced residents, and the population surged. By 1924 the community had grown to 15,000 people and was effectively self-sustaining, with its own schools, employers, and services.^[4]

Mid-20th century and Industrial Era

The Hilltop continued to prosper through the mid-20th century. General Motors (Fisher Body and Delphi divisions) became a major employer for local residents, bringing stability and economic vitality to the neighborhood. A strong sense of civic pride pervaded the community—at one point the mayor of Columbus was a Hilltop resident. Local businesses thrived and community political engagement was at its peak.^[4]

Growth slowed during World War II but resumed in the postwar period. However, like many urban neighborhoods nationally, The Hilltop experienced the effects of deindustrialization as manufacturing jobs departed and residents moved to newer suburbs. This gradual economic shift prompted community leaders and city planners to develop strategies for renewal.^[4]

Land use

The Greater Hilltop features a diverse mix of land uses. Residential land accounts for 51% of the total, with the majority dedicated to single-family homes (81%); multifamily (14%) and two-to-three-family units (5%) are concentrated along major corridors such as West Broad Street and Sullivant Avenue. Industrial land (16%), primarily located in the northwest quadrant, provides important employment for the region. Commercial uses (9%), more than half of which are community-scale, are clustered along West Broad Street, Sullivant Avenue, and Georgesville Road. Institutional uses, parks and open space, vacant land, office, and agriculture and utilities make up the remaining quarter of land use.^[1]

North Hilltop

North Hilltop is the northernmost residential sub-neighborhood of The Greater Hilltop, situated north of West Broad Street and cradled between U.S. Route 40 (West Broad Street) to the south and Interstate 70 to the north.^[8] Located approximately 4.4 miles west of Downtown Columbus and neighboring North Franklinton to the east, North Hilltop falls within ZIP code 43204.^[9]

The neighborhood is primarily residential, with a characteristic housing stock of Cape Cods, Craftsman bungalows, and Colonial Revival homes, the majority of which were built in the 1920s on quarter-acre lots along narrow, tree-lined streets.^[9] The area developed during the same early 20th-century building boom that shaped much of The Greater Hilltop, and retains a cohesive streetscape of historic architecture.^[10]

North Hilltop is served by COTA bus line 10, which runs along West Broad Street, providing direct transit access to Downtown Columbus and points east and west.^[9] Key recreational anchors include Rhodes Park, a large park with sports fields that draws visitors from across The Hilltop and broader Columbus, and the Holton Community Center, which provides a fitness center, game room, and gymnasium to neighborhood residents.^[9] The Camp Chase Trail multi-use path also passes through or near the neighborhood, connecting residents to the broader trail network.

The North Hilltop Neighborhood Association (NHNA) is the active civic organization serving the area. The NHNA's mission is to improve the North Hilltop neighborhood by raising awareness of community issues, seeking solutions actively, and bringing equity, inclusivity, civility, and security to residents. The association operates through committees focused on trash and safety, economic development, and community events.^[11]

Highland West

Highland West is considered the historic core of The Hilltop and one of the area's oldest established neighborhoods. Its boundaries run from the I-70 corridor to the east, Hague Avenue to the west, the railroad tracks to the north, and Sullivant Avenue to the south.^[12] The neighborhood encompasses the West Broad Street commercial district that took root in the early 20th century and is home to some of the oldest residential and institutional architecture on The Hilltop, including St. Aloysius Church on West Broad Street. The Highland West District was formally designated by the City of Columbus in 2004 as a special focus area for economic revitalization along the West Broad Street corridor.^[13]

The Highland West Civic Association is the neighborhood's active civic organization, working toward inclusive revitalization of the area and supporting the goals of the City of Columbus's planning documents for West Broad Street.^[13]

Glenwood Heights

Glenwood Heights developed near the crest of the hill following the post-1913 flood population surge, becoming one of the first new subdivisions on The Hilltop's upper ridge. Celebrated in the early 20th century for its elevated, healthful setting away from downtown's smoke and industry, the neighborhood sits along the upper reaches of West Broad Street.^[14] It is anchored today by the Glenwood Community Recreation Center, which features an outdoor pool and serves as a hub for community programming.^[15]

Highland Terrace

Highland Terrace developed alongside Glenwood Heights during the early 20th century building boom that spread across The Hilltop's central ridge. Residential streets of Cape Cods, Craftsman bungalows, and American Foursquare homes give the area its characteristic streetscape.^[14] The neighborhood's interior streets feed into the West Broad Street commercial corridor to the north.

Wicklow

Wicklow is one of several early 20th-century residential subdivisions that spread westward along the West Broad Street and Sullivant Avenue corridors. The neighborhood's name reflects the Irish heritage common among early Hilltop settlers. Homes built between approximately 1910 and 1930 include bungalows and two-story vernacular styles typical of working-class Columbus neighborhoods of the era.^[16] The Wicklow area sits within the broader Central Hilltop geography.

Hilltonia

Hilltonia expanded The Hilltop's residential footprint further west along West Broad Street during the early-to-mid 20th century building boom. By the 1920s, new subdivisions including Hilltonia had helped push The Hilltop's population well past 15,000.^[14] The neighborhood lends its name to Hilltonia Park (9.5 acres) and Hilltonia Middle School, which together serve as anchors for the south-central portion of The Greater Hilltop. The park includes baseball diamonds, a basketball court, a playground, and picnic areas.^[15]

Westgate

Westgate is one of the most recognized neighborhoods within The Greater Hilltop. Located approximately four miles west of Downtown Columbus, Westgate was developed beginning in the 1920s on land that had previously been the site of Camp Chase and a Confederate prison. After the Civil War the land was purchased by Joseph Binns and associates, who intended to start a Quaker community; when those plans did not materialize the land was developed as a classic streetcar suburb. The neighborhood is bounded by West Broad Street to the north, Sullivant Avenue to the south, Hague Avenue to the east, and Wilson Road to the west.

Westgate features tree-lined streets with a rich variety of Cape Cod, Colonial Revival, Tudor, Craftsman bungalow, and cottage-style homes, many dating to the 1920s and 1930s.^[14] Columbus Monthly has twice named Westgate one of the best neighborhoods to live in within Central Ohio.^[14] The neighborhood is home to Westgate Park and Recreation Center, West High School, and the Hilltop Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Approximately 4,500 residents live within Westgate's boundaries, most in single-family houses.

The Westgate Neighbors Association (WNA), formed in 2008, serves the neighborhood with a mission of preserving, improving, and enhancing the viability, livability, and overall quality of life for Westgate residents. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit civic organization open to residents, business owners, and others interested in supporting the neighborhood.^[17]

Wilshire Heights

Wilshire Heights is a small, tight-knit neighborhood just south of Westgate, bounded by Sullivant Avenue to the north, Hague Avenue to the east, Mound Street to the south, and Crescent Road to the west.^[18] Like Westgate, the neighborhood features residential streets developed primarily in the 1920s and 1930s, with many English Cottage Revival and Tudor Revival homes whose interiors feature hardwood floors, gumwood trim, and arched doorways.^[14] Wilshire Heights boasts well-preserved early-20th-century housing stock and engaged, community-conscious residents.

The neighborhood is organized through the Wilshire Heights community blog and the Wilshire Heights Neighborhood Association, which maintains a blockwatch program and organizes periodic neighborhood meetings.^[14]

Georgian Heights and Holly Hill

Georgian Heights and the adjacent Holly Hill neighborhood occupy the southwest portion of The Greater Hilltop. Together they are bounded by Sullivant Avenue to the north, Clime Road to the south, Georgesville Road to the west, and Demorest Road to the east. Georgian Heights Park, a 10.7-acre public park at the center of the area, provides green space and recreational facilities to residents. The neighborhoods are primarily residential, with a mix of mid-20th-century housing. Children in Georgian Heights attend Georgian Heights Elementary, Eakin Elementary, and other Hilltop-area schools.

The Holly Hill Neighborhood Association organizes seasonal events and community gatherings—including summer block parties and holiday decorating contests—to foster resident engagement and neighborhood spirit.

Murray Hill and Lincoln Village

Murray Hill, colloquially known as part of Lincoln Village, occupies the western edge of The Greater Hilltop in Prairie Township, ZIP code 43228. It is bounded by West Broad Street to the north, Sullivant Avenue to the south, South Grener Avenue to the east, and Redmond and Hiler Roads to the west. Lincoln Village was developed in the late 1950s as a planned postwar suburb near Columbus factories for Westinghouse and General Motors—a pioneering concept integrating a new residential community with nearby employment, local schools, and strip retail. The development was featured in Life Magazine for its modern homes with climate-control units.

Cherry Creek

Cherry Creek is a neighborhood on the far western edge of The Greater Hilltop, bounded by Interstate 270 to the east, Sullivant Avenue to the north, Norton Road to the west, and Hall Road to the south, in ZIP code 43228. Cherry Creek and the adjacent Murray Hill neighborhood are often considered together by residents since only Sullivant Avenue separates them. The neighborhood is notably ethnically diverse, with residents of African American, Hispanic, and white backgrounds, as reflected in school demographics at nearby Stiles Elementary. The neighborhood is home to the Hilltop YMCA, which provides a pool, daycare, and other community programs.

The Hilltop area includes 67,781 residents and 25,344 households (2010 U.S. Census), with a population density of approximately 4,183.7 people per square mile. The median age of 34 years is slightly older than the Columbus citywide median of 31 years.^[19]

The Greater Hilltop is notably diverse. The neighborhood has seen growing Hispanic and Somali populations join its established African American and white communities, making The Hilltop one of the most multicultural corners of Central Ohio.^[20]

Camp Chase Trail

The Camp Chase Trail, opened in 2009, is a multi-use recreational and transportation trail running through The Greater Hilltop along the former Camp Chase railroad corridor. The trail is part of the 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail connecting Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, and is also a segment of the Great American Rail-Trail.^[20] The trail crosses West Broad Street via a historic railroad trestle, offering a memorable elevated view of the neighborhood.^[20] Since the trail's opening there has been a significant increase in multi-day bicycle tourism along the Ohio to Erie Trail.^[20]

Arts and festivals

The Hilltop has a vibrant arts culture, anchored by Summer Jam West, which was a free, grassroots music and arts festival held annually in Westgate Park on the second Saturday in July. The festival featured live local bands, locally made art and crafts for sale, food trucks, free face painting, and a free children's art zone. In 2015 the festival installed On the Wings of Change, a 14-foot stainless steel and copper sculpture of a monarch butterfly near the shelter house in Westgate Park, designed and built by artist Rachel Pace of Steeling Copper Metal Studio—the first permanent outdoor art sculpture on The Hilltop. In 2016, artist Danielle Poling was commissioned to paint an 80-foot mural titled Fantastic Food Garden on the west-facing wall of the racquetball court in Westgate Park. In 2017, Roger J. Williams painted a 95-foot Movin' & Groovin mural along the Camp Chase Trail; additional art panels by Brian Marcus and Tiffany Christopher were also installed that year.^[22] The tenth and final Summer Jam West festival was held in July, 2025.

Civic organizations

The Hilltop is home to an engaged network of civic and community organizations, including the Greater Hilltop Area Commission (GHAC)—the official city-recognized neighborhood commission advising Columbus City Council on zoning, planning, and community matters—and Hilltop RISE Economic CDC, a private community development corporation incorporated in 2022 dedicated to fostering mindful economic growth on The Hilltop.^[23] Other active organizations include the Hilltop Business Association, the Hilltop Historical Society, the West High School Alumni Association, the Westgate Neighbors Association, the Highland West Civic Association, The Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone, Homes on the Hill CDC, Highland Youth Garden, Hilltop Kiwanis, and the Hilltop Early Learning Center.

Columbus City Schools

The Hilltop is served by Columbus City Schools. West High School (179 S. Powell Ave.), located in the Westgate neighborhood, has served The Hilltop since the early 20th century; its teams, the Cowboys, compete in the Columbus City League. Briggs High School (2555 Briggs Rd.), opened in 1974, is home to the Bruins (purple and gold) and offers Advanced Placement coursework and gifted programming. Elementary and middle schools within The Greater Hilltop include Georgian Heights, Glenwood, Holton, Lindbergh Elementary, Hilltonia Middle School, and Westgate Elementary, among others.

Columbus Metropolitan Library — Hilltop Branch

The Hilltop Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (511 S. Hague Ave.) is one of the largest branches in the Columbus Metro Library system. It houses approximately 50,000 volumes, films, and magazines and features a large children's department.^[24] The branch also serves as the regular meeting location for the Greater Hilltop Area Commission and its committees.^[25]

Envision Hilltop

The Envision Hilltop plan is a comprehensive community vision and roadmap for the future growth and development of The Hilltop, developed through an inclusive, resident-led process. The plan emphasizes three pillars: people, places, and homes, and is designed to place the needs of Hilltop residents front and center.^[28] As of 2025, more than $180 million has been invested in The Hilltop through this initiative.^[21] Notable achievements include $10 million in infrastructure improvements along Sullivant Avenue—covering street repairs, new sidewalks, upgraded streetlights, traffic signals, signage, bump-outs, and pedestrian refuge islands—resulting in a 50% reduction in traffic crashes and a 92% reduction in extreme speeding on Sullivant Avenue.^[21]

West Broad Street Corridor

West Broad Street has long been the commercial heart of The Hilltop and remains a focus of economic development planning. Earlier strategies including the 2005 West Broad Street Economic Development Strategy and the 2006 Highland West Visioning Charrette established a blueprint for revitalization between Highland and Terrace avenues, recommending redevelopment of vacant retail spaces, introduction of mixed-use development, and expansion of medical and professional services—especially within the Highland West District, designated by the City in 2004.^[29]

Hilltop RISE Economic CDC

Hilltop RISE Economic CDC, incorporated in March 2022, is a private community development corporation dedicated to facilitating mindful economic growth and development on The Hilltop. The organization works with local businesses, developers, and residents to create sustainable economic opportunity in the neighborhood.^[23]