History of Columbia Heights Neighborhood

History of Columbia Heights

Columbia Heights was first a farmland that had no real significance in its presence. But in It slowing was beginning to become a suburb in Washington Dc after the Civil War when people were able to be taken from neighborhoods to the downtown were Columbia Heights was located at.

After Congress passed the D.C Organic Act, the boundaries of DC were expanding. Senator John Sherman purchased the area from what is present day 16^th street and 10^th street creating a subdivision in the city. He named Columbia Heights after his college he so deeply loved.

As the years when by Columbia Heights was beginning to transform. It began to attract people by its change from suburban area to an urban and densely populated area. In 1924 the building of the Tivoli Theater movie house was completed that served as a big attraction for people to come to Columbia Heights.

During the 1940s there were changes in Columbia Heights. Black people were starting to buy apartments buildings from whites and bought homes as well. The neighborhood began to be “middle class” African Americans.

In 1968 after Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination there was a big riot that broke loose in Columbia Heights. Many homes and businesses were destroyed and broke.

Neighborhood History---Ashton Heights

1) The Maury School is a symbol of prosperity and popularity of the neighborhood. The School is within the borders of Ashton heights. To the neighborhood’s prosperity it was important. The school was an attraction for families to move into the neighborhood. Because of the School being within the borders of Ashton heights it helped the neighborhood prosper and develop into a more desirable neighborhood. Because the school was in Ashton heights more families with children would want to move to the area and this creates more demand and this in turn raises the property value of this area and thus creates a prosperous neighborhood. The situation of the Maury School in the border of Ashton Heights helped make Ashton heights a successful neighborhood.

2) Because of its placement in Arlington County Ashton heights was the center of entertainment not only in the County but also in northern Virginia. Much like today Clarendon is the “downtown” of Arlington Ashton heights was the place of commercial activity and entertainment in the 1950s. In the 1950s Ashton heights was a prime neighborhood to live in because of it proximity to both Clarendon and Parkington (today’s Ballston Common Mall). It was a popular neighborhood because it was so close to these attractions but it still had a community feel to it. Even though Ashton heights was so close to these entertainment centers it remained a safe and respected neighborhood and this aspect attracted many families.

3) In respect to the rest of Arlington County Ashton Heights is the “heart of Arlington. Geographically it is placed so it has all the potential to be a flourishing neighborhood. In the grounds of Ashton Heights there is a school, which increases its potential to be a good neighborhood. It is also situated between two entertainment centers Ballston Common Mall and Clarendon. In the 1950s Ashton heights was in the same situation and it had the same potential. Ashton heights was established 20 years before 1950 so it had had a period to establish itself in respect to the rest of Arlington County. By 1950 Ashton heights was a prosperous neighborhood because of its locations and the landmarks within it which made it desirable to home buyers.

Sources:

1) The plaque.

2) Dickson, Peter W. "Beyond Ashton Heights: Forces for Change." Ashton Heights: It's Origin and History. (2007): 7-9. Print.

3) Rothwarf, Rita R. "Neighborhood History Preservation Study for the Ashton Heights area of Arlington County, VA." Ashton Heights: It's Origin and History. (1987): 14. Print.