The Hilltop is a historic neighborhood located in central Tacoma. A working-class and immigrant community during the early twentieth century, the neighborhood later became a home for many African-American families beginning in the 1940s and 1950s. Due to restrictive housing practices known as redlining, the Hilltop became one of the only areas of the city where Black families could purchase homes. In recent years, the neighborhood has been the site of significant change as development and gentrification have pushed many long-term residents out of the area. The interviews in this section cover the diverse roots of the neighborhood, the history of the Hilltop’s businesses and institutions, and the more recent debates regarding gentrification and historic preservation.

Photo: Maddy Hadden