South of Main History

Once a small farm community known as Kimball Farms bordered by Bexley to the east, the identifying landmark of the area were the silos used to store grain for the farm.  As time passed many African Americans migrated to the City of Columbus in search of jobs and settled within the South of Main Neighborhood.  Many businesses lined East Main Street, the main corridor that runs through the neighborhood, and was once part of the “Old National Highway” prior to the construction of Interstate 70.  However after the construction of the I-70 and I-71 highways, the neighborhood was severed from the rest of the city, although downtown was less than two miles west. As a result the area declined due to many of its residents locating to other sections of the city. The neighborhood still suffers from population decline due to the effects of the highway being built and neglect without any concerted plan for improvement, resulting in a lost identity for this area of East Main St [Download South of Main Map].

Based upon the “Revitalization Plan for South of Main” established by the Ohio State University City and Regional Plan Department in February 2013, listed below are statistics about the 43205 zip code and the South of Main community.  The South of Main community boundary is Kelton Avenue (West) to Alum Creek Drive (East) and East Main Street (North) to Cole Street (South).

South of Main Community Needs Assessment Info

·   55% of residents in the 43205 zip code have chronic diseases

·   14.3% of household have a husband-wife family.

·   27.2% vacant housing units in 43205 zip code with over 100 vacant/abandoned housing units in South of Main community

·   33.1% owner-occupied housing units in zip code 43205

Estimated zip code 43205 population in 2011:  12,038

o   Zip code 43205 – population in 2010:  12,272

o   Zip code 43205 – population in 2000:  14,644

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2011

o   Zip code 43205:  40.2%

o   Whole state:  16.4%

Median income for zip code 43205 in 2010 is $25,240.00 and median income for South of Main community in 2010 is $14,600.00.

There are only two public primary elementary/middle schools in zip code 43205.  They are Fairwood Alternative Elementary School (Students: 398 and Grades:  KG – 6) and Ohio Avenue Elementary School (Students:  325; Grades:  PK – 5).  Fairwood serves the children in the South of Main community.

o   Fairwood Alternative Elementary School rating compared to average state, county and city schools ratings:  3.6%

o   In 2013, the Average Test Score in Math was 34.5

o   In 2013, the Average Test Score in Reading was 47.1

The Rock of Faith Baptist Church was established in 1978 by the Reverend Bob Duckens.  The Church is located in the heart of Columbus, Ohio in a historical location on East Main Street at 1667 East Main Street.  Over the past 40 years, Rock of Faith Baptist Church has become an important part of the community outreach, providing services and hope to the surrounding neighborhood residents. Some of the community services the Church has provided over time include a food and clothing pantry, Saturday morning community breakfasts, prison ministries, residential drug and alcohol treatment programs, halfway houses for both men and women coming out of prison, job training and job placement programs, group homes for the developmentally disabled as well as supportive living services for this group. Rock of Faith Baptist Church, with a congregation of 300, is also a strong supporter of the Rock of Faith Community Development Corporation (ROFCDC). 

Download: South of Main Neighborhood Data