Linden (Columbus, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Linden
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Neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio
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Houses in South Linden
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Franklin |
| City | Columbus |
| Founded | 1908 |
| ZIP Code |
43211, 43224
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| Area code(s) | 614/380 |
Linden is a neighborhood located in the northeastern part of Columbus, Ohio. It started as a village called Linden Heights in 1908. In 1921, it officially became a part of Columbus.
During the 1920s, Linden grew a lot with many new homes. However, by the 1960s, many families began moving out to the suburbs. This caused some challenges for the neighborhood, including fewer jobs and less investment.
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History of Linden Neighborhood
Linden was once part of a large land gift. This gift was given by John Adams to George Stevenson. It was a reward for his service in the American Revolutionary War. Early settlers like Frederick Weber and Gustavus Innis have local roads named after them.
The area became Linden Heights Village in 1908. It grew into a "bedroom community," meaning people lived there but often worked elsewhere. Cleveland Avenue became a busy shopping area.
Becoming Part of Columbus
The community wanted to join the city of Columbus early on. However, their boundaries did not touch, making it impossible. Linden leaders voted to join Columbus in 1921. This made Linden an official neighborhood of the city.
Joining Columbus brought important services like better utilities. This helped new housing developments to be built. The northeast part of Columbus, including Linden, saw many new homes in the 1920s. About 29% of all new housing in the city was built here.
Rules for New Homes
Many new homes had special rules called "deed restrictions." These rules controlled things like how far back houses were built. They also set prices for homes. Some rules even prevented African Americans and other minority groups from buying property.
In 1935, a federal map was made for the city. This map used a practice called redlining. It marked certain neighborhoods, including much of Linden, as "high-risk" for investors. This meant it was harder for people in these areas to get loans or invest.
Changes in the 1960s
In the 1960s, many people started moving to the suburbs. This trend affected Linden, causing many residents to leave. One reason was that the government offered loans and money for roads outside cities.
Also, social changes led some white residents to move. They sought more separated suburban areas. Interstate 71 was built through the west side of Linden in 1960-61. Some buildings were taken down for the highway.
Linden's Recent Challenges
Since the 1960s, Linden's population has been lower. This has led to fewer jobs and less money being invested in the area. The neighborhood has faced challenges like empty buildings and less money for homes and businesses. Streets and sidewalks also need more care.
Geography of Linden
Linden is located in northeastern Columbus. Its southern border is Eighth Avenue. To the north, it reaches East Cooke and Ferris roads. On the west, it's bordered by Conrail train tracks. Joyce Avenue and Westerville Road form its eastern boundary.
The neighborhood is officially surrounded by CSX train tracks on its south, west, and east sides. Hudson Street divides Linden into two parts: North and South Linden. The neighborhood covers an area of almost 5.79 square miles.
The main commercial areas are along Cleveland Avenue and Hudson Street. Cleveland Avenue runs north to south, and Hudson Street runs east to west.
Linden's Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 17,266 | — | |
| 1950 | 27,070 | 56.8% | |
| 1960 | 32,543 | 20.2% | |
| 1970 | 31,799 | −2.3% | |
| 1980 | 26,233 | −17.5% | |
| 1990 | 24,002 | −8.5% | |
| 2000 | 20,711 | −13.7% | |
| 2010 | 17,628 | −14.9% | |
| 2016 (est.) | 18,079 | 2.6% | |
| One Linden community plan | |||
In the 2010 U.S. Census, Linden had a population of 17,628 people. There were 8,639 homes in the neighborhood at that time.
The population of Linden has changed over the years. In 1940, most residents were white. By 1970, the number of African American residents had grown significantly. This shows a big shift in the neighborhood's population over time.
| Racial composition | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2016 (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.2% | 96.3% | 83.6% | 49.9% | 34.4% | 31.5% | 25.7% | 24.5% | 23.0% |
| African American | 3.7% | 3.7% | 16.4% | 49.7% | 64.6% | 66.9% | 69.7% | 69.7% | 63.4% |
| Other or multiracial | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.01% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 1.6% | 4.6% | 5.8% | 13.6% |
Community Development Efforts
The City of Columbus has marked Linden as a "Community Reinvestment Area." This means it's a place "ready for opportunity." The city offers special programs to encourage new projects and businesses. For example, new projects can get a 15-year tax break. This program was started in 2002 to help improve the neighborhood.
Schools in Linden
Linden has several elementary schools for younger students. These include Linden Elementary, North Linden Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, East Linden Elementary, Como Elementary, and Windsor Academy.
For middle school, students can attend Linmoor Middle School. High school options include Columbus Alternative High School and Linden-McKinley High School.
Food Access in Linden
Linden does not have a large commercial grocery store. This means it can be hard for some residents to find fresh, healthy food. South and East Linden are areas where many people face "food insecurity." This means they don't always have enough food.
A Kroger grocery store in North Linden closed in 2018. A new store, Saraga International Grocery, opened in its place in 2019.
