West End, Cincinnati

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West End is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, just northwest of downtown. In the mid-20th century, much of the area was cleared to build highways and the Queensgate industrial park, which caused a big drop in residents.

History and displacement
- The Kenyon-Barr Renewal Plan created Queensgate by razing the Kenyon-Barr neighborhood from 1959 to 1973. Nearly 3,700 buildings on 450 acres were demolished, and about 9,800 families (roughly 27,000 people) were displaced—most of them Black.
- Overall, by 1970 about 50,452 Cincinnatians had to relocate due to these urban renewal projects, including improvements around Interstate 75 and other roads.

Development and changes
- West End later became the site of City West, a major postwar housing project that turned into a mixed-income community. In 1999 many older buildings were leveled to make way for townhomes.
- In 2005, plans for CityLink at 800 Bank Street drew controversy. CityLink Center opened in 2013 as a large social-services facility, serving thousands of residents, including many from the West End, without increasing local crime.

Historic and location notes
- The West End contains several National Register historic districts and buildings, such as Laurel Homes, Dayton Street Historic District, Betts–Longworth Historic District, and Betts House.
- It sits northwest of downtown Cincinnati, east of Queensgate, west of Over-the-Rhine, and southeast of Fairview.
- ZIP code: 45214.

Community and economy today
- As of 2020, 6,824 people lived in the West End, in 3,941 housing units.
- Racial makeup: about 78.3% Black, 14.7% White, small percentages of Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, other races, and two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up about 2.2%.
- Households: 3,512 total, with 35.8% families and 54.3% individuals living alone.
- Age: roughly 40.2% under 18, 51.4% 18–64, and 8.4% 65 or older.
- Income and poverty: median household income around $19,499 (2016–2020 estimates), with about 50.4% of families below the poverty line. About 24% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Community anchors: TQL Stadium, home of FC Cincinnati, is located in the West End, and the neighborhood is served by a branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.