Buckeye

Schott

941 Persons

About the Neighborhood

The Southside area of Columbus is a diverse mix of residential, commercial and industrial development. The residential homes include a mix of architectural styles, with construction ranging from the mid-19th century to today. The area consists of eight neighborhoods: Merion Village, Hungarian Village, Innis Gardens, Millwood, Lincoln Park, Edgewood, Reeb-Hosack and Stambaugh Elwood.

The area was settled by immigrants in the late 1800s who were attracted by jobs at the steel companies that had located to the area to be near the railroads. So many steel companies-including Carnegie Steel and Buckeye Steel-were in the Near Southside that it became known as “Steelton.”

The Southside is anchored by Columbus Children’s Hospital, which employs over 3,000 people and offers low-cost healthcare to the surrounding communities. The Near Southside neighborhoods include Driving Park, Old Oaks, and Livingston Park.

In the early 1900s, Driving Park became a prominent entertainment destination in Central Ohio because of its amusement center and racetrack that featured rides, auto races, and air shows. In fact, Driving Park was home to Eddie Rickenbacker, who used to perform for the crowds before becoming a World War I pilot.

Location

The Southside area is bounded by I-70 on the north, Alum Creek on the east, State Route 104 on the south and the railroad tracks near High Street on the west. Main traffic corridors are Livingston and Parsons Avenues.

Community and Civic Organizations

Community Development for All People http://www.4allpeople.org
Schumacher Place Civic Association
http://schumacherplace.typepad.com/schumacher_place/
Merion Village Civic Association
http://www.merionvillage.org/
Parson Avenue Merchants Association

Places of Interest

Children’s Hospital http://www.columbuschildrens.org/gd/templates
/pages/Home/home.aspx?page=1
Eddie Rickenbacker’s Home
Holy Rosary St. John Catholic Church http://www.hrsj.org/home.html
Driving Park and Parsons Avenue branches, Columbus Metropolitan Library

Parks and Recreation

Deshler Park http://recparks.columbus.gov/Parks/Parks_100.asp
Driving Park and Recreation Center
http://www.cml.lib.oh.us/ebranch/about_cml/locations/
sel_branch_detail.cfm?bldg_id=370
Livingston Park http://recparks.columbus.gov/Parks/Parks_70.asp
Fairwood Park 
http://recparks.columbus.gov/Parks/Parks_11.asp
Lincoln Park and Barrack Recreation Center