The Bottoms

The Bottoms is a name for part of Franklinton, the first American settlement in Central Ohio dating back to 1797 and incorporated into Columbus, Ohio in 1870. The area is bordered to the east by Route 315, north by the Scioto River, west by the Interstate 70 overpass by Rhodes Park, and Brown Road on the southern border. The neighborhood originally got its name, Franklinton, from its founder, Lucas Sullivant. The nickname was originally coined because much of the land lies below the level of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and has historically been prone to flooding. The low-lying bottom land was well-suited for farming, with the river serving as a direct connection to the Ohio River. While the "bottoms" has often been used as a pejorative by outlying areas, many long-term residents are proud of the name. Since the early 2000s, the name "Franklinton" has seen a resurgence in use. Among some locals residents, the reversion to Franklinton is often associated with ongoing gentrification efforts, used as "the Bottoms" is an unsavory name.[1]

According to the Franklinton Area Commission:

• Though Franklinton is the last downtown neighborhood to be redeveloped, it is actually the birthplace of Columbus, settled 15 years before the city itself
• Since the completion of the flood wall, the community redevelopment has included more than 400 residential projects, a new firehouse, two new schools, new residential dorms at the former location of Mount Carmel West (which moved to Grove City) and the exploration of countless commercial projects