Hilltop Neighborhood, Tacoma, Washington
Encyclopedia
The Hilltop Neighborhood is a historically diverse
neighborhood in the Tacoma, Washington Central District. Hilltop's approximate boundaries are 6th Avenue in the north, 25th Street in the south, Yakima Avenue in the east, and Sprague Avenue in the west. It derives its name from its location on a high bluff overlooking Commencement Bay
and the Port of Tacoma
.
Hilltop is near the historic Tacoma Public Library
main branch, Bates Technical College
, the Pierce County Courthouse, and the new Pierce County Correctional Facility, all of which are located on Hilltop's east side. It is adjoined by Tacoma's more affluent Stadium District.
Hilltop has been notorious for drug-related gang activity, most notably related to the infamous Hilltop Crips
. The word "Hilltop" became synonymous specifically with Tacoma's gang
problems, and more generally with urban pathologies associated with the US's Crack Epidemic
.
Neighborhood watch efforts, increased police presence, commercial real estate development efforts along Martin Luther King Way and rising real estate values in all areas adjoining downtown Tacoma have served to lower the amount of crime in Hilltop. However, Hilltop continues to have a high crime rate.
The neighborhood's population is 13,038 and remains racially diverse. 42% of residents are White or Caucasian, 31% Black or African-American, 10% Asian, 3% Native American, 1% Pacific Islander, 3% from other races, and 8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7% of the population. 32% of residents were below poverty line.
In 2007 the Tacoma City Council adopted new official boundaries for downtown Tacoma which includes a portion of the Hilltop neighborhood as far west as South L Street which includes most of the Upper Tacoma Business District. The Hilltop Crips
have not modified their name to reflect the neighborhood's new designation.
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
neighborhood in the Tacoma, Washington Central District. Hilltop's approximate boundaries are 6th Avenue in the north, 25th Street in the south, Yakima Avenue in the east, and Sprague Avenue in the west. It derives its name from its location on a high bluff overlooking Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay is a bay of Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. The city of Tacoma is located on the bay, with the Port of Tacoma occupying the southeastern end. A line drawn from Point Defiance in the southwest to Browns Point in the northeast serves to mark the generally accepted...
and the Port of Tacoma
Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an independent seaport located in Tacoma, Washington. The port was created by a vote of Pierce County citizens on November 5, 1918...
.
Hilltop is near the historic Tacoma Public Library
Tacoma Public Library
The Tacoma Public Library system serves residents of Tacoma, Washington. It operates ten library branches, which include a central library in downtown Tacoma, two regional locations in north and south Tacoma, and in seven neighborhoods. The Tacoma library has nearly 150,000 registered users, and...
main branch, Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College, located in Tacoma, Washington, is the state’s largest public technical college. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, it offers two-year Associate of Technology degrees, academic certificates, and industry certifications, and maintains...
, the Pierce County Courthouse, and the new Pierce County Correctional Facility, all of which are located on Hilltop's east side. It is adjoined by Tacoma's more affluent Stadium District.
Hilltop has been notorious for drug-related gang activity, most notably related to the infamous Hilltop Crips
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
. The word "Hilltop" became synonymous specifically with Tacoma's gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
problems, and more generally with urban pathologies associated with the US's Crack Epidemic
Crack Epidemic
The United States crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack houses and crack cocaine use in major cities in the United States between 1984 and 1990...
.
Neighborhood watch efforts, increased police presence, commercial real estate development efforts along Martin Luther King Way and rising real estate values in all areas adjoining downtown Tacoma have served to lower the amount of crime in Hilltop. However, Hilltop continues to have a high crime rate.
The neighborhood's population is 13,038 and remains racially diverse. 42% of residents are White or Caucasian, 31% Black or African-American, 10% Asian, 3% Native American, 1% Pacific Islander, 3% from other races, and 8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7% of the population. 32% of residents were below poverty line.
In 2007 the Tacoma City Council adopted new official boundaries for downtown Tacoma which includes a portion of the Hilltop neighborhood as far west as South L Street which includes most of the Upper Tacoma Business District. The Hilltop Crips
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
have not modified their name to reflect the neighborhood's new designation.