U Street (Washington, D.C.)
U Street Corridor | |
---|---|
Neighborhood of Washington, D.C. | |
Top: 14th Street (right) | |
Coordinates: 38°55′01″N 77°01′59″W / 38.917046°N 77.03293°W | |
Country | United States |
District | Washington, D.C. |
Ward | Ward 1 |
Government | |
• Councilmember | Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1) |
Area | |
• Total | .2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
Population (2017) | |
• Total | 5,385 |
• Density | 26,732/sq mi (10,321/km2) |
Website | https://washington.org/dc-neighborhoods/u-street |
The U Street Corridor or Greater U Street, sometimes known as Cardozo/Shaw, is a
The area was largely built after the
History
19th century
U Street is a largely
At the time of the Civil War, the area was woods and open fields. The Union command chose this area for military encampments including Camp Barker near 13th and R streets and others in what is now the Shaw neighborhood proper. The encampments were safe havens for freed slaves fleeing the South, and thus the area became a popular one for African Americans to settle.[4]
After the war, horse-drawn
Early 20th century
Until the 1920s, when it was overtaken by
In its cultural heyday – roughly consisting of the years between 1900 and the early 1960s[7] – the U Street Corridor was known as "Black Broadway", a phrase coined by singer Pearl Bailey.[8] Performers who played the local clubs of the era included Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Jelly Roll Morton, among many others.[9]
During
From 1911 to 1963, the west end of the U Street neighborhood was anchored by
The Green Book, a travel guide for black travelers (1933–1963) listed many sites along U Street NW by Green Book Travelers.[12]
Late 20th century
While the area remained a
Following the economic downturn the area faced following the 1968 riots, the community and DC government launched numerous redevelopment efforts, such as the construction of the Reeves Center in 1986, the opening of the
In the 1990s, revitalization of
21st century
Redevelopment continued further into the 2000s and 2010s,[14] along with rising concerns about gentrification.[17]
Since 2013 numerous large mixed use residential buildings with retail on the ground floor have been built into the corridor.[18] This represents a significant population increase versus the population of 4,572 registered in the 2010 census.
In 2011, U Street NW was designated a Great Street among Great Places in America by the American Planning Association. It is said to have been selected for in recognition of the street return to its grandeur after several decades of difficulties. Once again, the street hosts the arts, food, and businesses. The community works to embrace its historical significance for the African American community of Washington, D.C. during segregation.[19]
On January 4, 2021, the book "Black Broadway" by DC author and journalist Briana A. Thomas was published by The History Press[20] Thomas narrates U Street's rich and unique history, from the early triumph of emancipation to the days of civil rights pioneer Mary Church Terrell and music giant Duke Ellington, through the recent struggles of gentrification.
Geography
The U Street Corridor is bounded by:
- on the north, Florida Ave. NW, towards the Meridian Hill and Columbia Heights neighborhoods
- on the south, S St. NW, towards the Logan Circle and Shaw neighborhoods
- on the east, 9th St. NW, towards the LeDroit Park, Howard University and Shaw neighborhoods
- on the west, 15th St. NW, towards the Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods and the Strivers' Section and Sixteenth Street historic districts
In addition to U Street itself, the intersecting
Name
The area is often referred to as the U Street Corridor,[1][2] and has been known by other names:
- Part of Shaw: The 1966 Shaw School Urban Renewal Area plan covered the neighborhood now commonly known as Shaw, but also the U Street Corridor, Logan Circle, that for decades were also considered part of Shaw.[21][22]
- Cardozo: in the 1990s the U Street Corridor was often referred to as Cardozo/Shaw,[22] a name that the DC planning department still uses.[23][24] Google Maps labels the neighborhood Cardozo. In both cases this is defined as a neighborhood separate from the Shaw neighborhood proper. The Cardozo Education Campus is located adjacent to the U Street Corridor but is actually in Columbia Heights neighborhood.
Demographics
Figures are for Census tract 44 through 2017, which was split into tracts 44.01 (north of U Street) and 44.02 (south of U street) as of the 2020 census.[25]
Demographic | 2020 census | 2010 census | 2000 census | 1990 census | 1980 census |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total pop. | 6,185 | 4,572 | 2,450 | 2,951 | 3,598 |
Children (under 18) | 6.8% | 27% | |||
Seniors (65+) | 4.8% | 8.6% | |||
Citizen (of over 18 pop.) | |||||
NH White | 63.3% | 60.8% | 22% | 8.7% | |
NH Black | 13.4% | 21.5% | 58% | 77% | |
Asian & Pacific Islander | 6.8% | 1.7% | 1.6% | ||
Asian | 8.3% (NH) | ||||
Pacific Islander & Native Hawaiian | 0.05% (NH) | ||||
Some other race | 0.53% (NH) | ||||
Two or more races | 5.2% (NH) | 2.7% | |||
Hispanic | 9.2% | 9.1% | 17% | 12% |
NH = non-Hispanic, NHPI = does not include Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
Census tract 44 was bounded by 14th, S, and 7th streets and Florida Av. NW, thus including the entire U Street Corridor plus four blocks east of 9th St. NW. As of 2020, it was divided into tracts 44.01 and 44.02 along U Street. This area counted a population of 5,385 in the more than double the 1990 population. The official census count was 4,572 in 2010, an 87% increase from only 2,450 in 2000, thus reversing the trend of a decreasing population from 2,951 in 1990 and 3,598 in 1980.
The racial change in the tract's population has been dramatic; non-Hispanic Black residents who were once the dominant group in the area, were only 13% of the population in 2020, down from 22% in 2010, and sharply down from 58% in 2000 and 77% in 1990; corresponding to an increase in whites and Asians: the white non-Hispanic population was 63% in 2020, 61% in 2010, 22% in 2000, 8.7% in 1990. The Asian/Pacific Islander population was 8.3%, a continued increase from 6.8% in 2010, and much higher than 1.7% in 2000 and 1.6% in 1990. The Hispanic population was 9.2% in 2020, relatively stable vs. 9.1% in 2010, but down from 17% in 2000 and 12% in 1990.[26]
The 2017 American Community Survey[3] showed 6.8% of the area's residents were children in 2010, sharply down from 27% in 1990. Seniors also showed a decline at 4.8% in 2010, down from 8.6% in 1990. The foreign-born population was 18% in 2011–15, up from only 2.3% in 1980.[26]
The per capita income in 2017 was est. $110,175 ±$10,961, more than double the average in D.C. ($50,832 ±$645); the Median household income was est. $166,071, more than$166,071, more than double the D.C. average of $77,649.[3]
Landmarks
Greater U Street Historic District | |
Location | Boundary map |
---|---|
Architectural style | Various (approximately 1580 contributing properties)[28] |
NRHP reference No. | 98001557[27] |
Added to NRHP | December 31, 1998 |
The neighborhood's landmark buildings are nearly all the works of prominent early 20th century African American architects, including:[29]
- nickelodeon (P. A. Hurlehaus, 1909)[30]
- True Reformer Building by John A. Lankford, built in 1902[31]
- Industrial Savings Bank by Isaiah T. Hatton, 1917
- Prince Hall Masonic Temple by Albert Cassell, 1922
- Thurgood Marshall Center - Twelfth Street YMCA by William Sidney Pittman, 1912
- The Whitelaw Hotel, by Isaiah T. Hatton, 1919[31]
Other landmarks include:
- Lincoln Theatre, opened in 1922.[32]
- Duke Ellington's former residences at 1805 and 1816 13th Street NW
- Mary Ann Shadd Cary House
Culture
U Street has long been a center of
U Street also hosts the annual Funk Parade, a festival and celebration of funk music, community arts, and creativity. Public art, street art or graffiti and murals can be found on almost every corner along U Street.
Transportation
The Corridor is served by the U Street station of the Washington Metro (subway), with service on the Green Line. WMATA buses run along both U and 14th streets, and the DC Circulator Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square line stops at 14th and U. Capital Bikeshare and various scooter-sharing systems have stations/vehicles in the area.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Northwest Quadrant, Washington, D.C.
References
- ^ a b c "10 Things to See & Do On U Street". Washington.org. March 21, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Jones, Erica. "A Look Back at DC's 'Black Broadway'". NBC New York. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Census profile: Census Tract 44, District of Columbia, DC". Census Reporter.
- ^ a b Williams, Paul K. (2001). City within a City: Greater U Street Heritage Trail. Cultural Tourism DC. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
- ^ 1888 U.S. Geological Service maps
- ^ "U Street/Shaw". culturaltourismdc.org. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Briana (February 12, 2017). "The Forgotten History of U Street". Washingtonian. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018.
- ^ Duke Ellington's Jazz Tour, Site Seeing Tours
- ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the originalon April 4, 2018.
- ^ Geiling, Natasha (May 31, 2014). "Grab a Drink, on the Sly, at One of D.C.'s Former Speakeasies". Smithsonian. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ Kaiser, Robert G. (April 22, 2004). "A City of Splendid Spaces, Great Events; 4 Landmarks Offer Washingtonians Gateways to a Capital Adventure". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Historypin". Historypin. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the originalon November 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Steve Inskeep (April 8, 2008). "U Street Corridor: Tracing a D.C. Neighborhood's Comeback from 1968". NPR. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018.
- ISBN 0-89608-410-8
- ^ Kreyling, Christine. "Something Old, Something New," Planning; August/September 2006, Vol. 72 Issue 8, p34-39, 6p. Retrieved April 4, 2007.
- ^ Hyra, Derek (June 12, 2017). "Selling a Black D.C. Neighborhood to White Millennials". Next City. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018.
- ^ "The Difference A Decade Makes: Images Show Rapid Growth Of 7 D.C. Neighborhoods". Bisnow.
- ^ "2011 Great Places in America". American Planning Association.
- ISBN 9781467139298. Archivedfrom the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Levey, Jane Freundel; Williams, Paul K. (2006). Midcity at the Crossroads: Shaw Heritage Trail. Cultural Tourism DC. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ a b "Building a Block of Prosperity in Shaw". March 20, 2000 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "Chapter 20 Mid-City Area Element" (PDF). dc.gov. April 8, 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "DRAFT DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR A CULTURAL DESTINATION DISTRICT WITHIN WASHINGTON, DC'S GREATER SHAW / U STREET" (PDF). dc.gov. September 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Census Tracts in D.C., D.C. government Open Data site
- ^ a b "DC 2010 Tract Profile - Population - NeighborhoodInfo DC". www.neighborhoodinfodc.org. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "District of Columbia - Inventory of Historic Sites" (PDF). District of Columbia: Office of Planning. Government of the District of Columbia. September 1, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
- ^ "2011 Great Places in America". U Street NW, Washington, D.C. American Planning Association. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012.
- ^ "About Us – Ben's Chili Bowl". benschilibowl.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ a b African American Heritage Trail. Cultural Tourism DC. 2003. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
- JSTOR 40073294.
- ^ "Music". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012.