Downtown Cincinnati is one of the 52 neighborhoods of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the central business district of the city, as well as the economic and symbiotic center of the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Originally the densely populated core of the city, the neighborhood was transformed into a commercial zone in the mid-20th century. The population was 5,835 at the 2020 census.[1]
Downtown was the densely populated core of Cincinnati in the 19th and 20th centuries. The basin was amongst the most densely populated areas of any city in the United States from 1860 to 1900. It remained a large share of the city's overall population until urban renewal and highways tore up much of urban fabric in the 1950s and 1960s.
Geography
Downtown Cincinnati is laid out on a basin on the Ohio River, surrounded by steep hills.[2] Downtown Cincinnati's streets are arranged on a grid. Streets are split between the east and west by Vine Street.[3] Bridges from Downtown Cincinnati span the Ohio River across to Covington and Newport in Northern Kentucky.
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Wards were utilized from 1840-1890 which have slightly different boundaries from census tracts utilized from 1900-40.[5][6][7]
As of the census of 2020, there were 5,835 people living in the neighborhood. There were 4,147 housing units. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 68.0% White, 17.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 6.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. 4.7% from two or more races.[1]
There were 2,639 households, out of which 17.2% were families. 64.4% of all households were made up of individuals.[1]
2.7% of the neighborhood's population were under the age of 18, 92.0% were 18 to 64, and 5.3% were 65 years of age or older. 37.6% of the population were male and 62.4% were female.[1]
According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, for the period 2016-2020 the estimated median annual income for a household in the neighborhood was $90,027. About 4.2% of family households were living below the poverty line. About 68.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher.[1]
Economy
Downtown has long been the economic hub of Cincinnati.[8] In the mid-nineteenth century, 16 of the city's 24 banks were located on Third Street near the busy Public Landing river port. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the center of business activity moved to Fourth Street,[9] closer to where it remains today.
Downtown Cincinnati is marked by its large collection of historic architecture and contains several historic districts and dozens of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
All but one of the twenty-five tallest buildings in Cincinnati are located in Downtown Cincinnati. The Carew Tower had a public observation deck on the forty-ninth floor, though it has since closed.
Since 1971, the Cincinnati Skywalk has connected buildings throughout downtown via a series of primarily indoor, elevated walkways. The Skywalk was officially completed as a 1.3 mile contiguous path in 1997, but has since fallen into disfavor by city leaders, and some sections have been removed.[11]
Downtown Cincinnati is an increasingly residential area with former commercial space, such as Park Place at Lytle, being converted into luxury condos.[12]
Often considered to be the heart of Cincinnati, Fountain Square is located in the center of the Central Business District. The 1871 dedicated Tyler Davidson Fountain stands prominently on the often busy city square. Other city parks located Downtown are Lytle Park and Piatt Park.
Infrastructure
Downtown is a transportation hub for the entire region. Downtown is served by Fort Washington Way which connects interstates 71 and 75 with Route 50.
