Strawberry Hill (Kansas City, Kansas)

Strawberry Hill
Neighborhood
Strawberry Hill is located in Kansas
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Location in Kansas City, Kansas
Coordinates: 39°06′46″N 94°37′08″W / 39.11278°N 94.61889°W / 39.11278; -94.61889
CountryUS
StateKansas
CountyWyandotte
CityKansas City, Kansas
PlattedLate 1800s
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
66101
Area code913
Websitethestrawberryhill.com

Strawberry Hill is a historic neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas, located on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Kansas River and Missouri River at Kaw Point. It was settled in the late 19th century by Slavic immigrants—primarily Croatians, Slovenes, and Serbians who worked in the nearby meatpacking industry. The area is known for its strong Eastern European heritage, which is preserved at landmarks like the Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center.[1]

History

The area was originally named Splitlog's Hill.[2] Mathias Splitlog, a Cayuga tribe member and millionaire, purchased the land in 1870 with the goal of building a grand manor.[3] After his death, his daughters sold parcels of the land, including a significant plot to the Right Reverend John Ward, the second Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leavenworth, which helped shape the neighborhood's development.

After the land was subdivided in the late 1800s, the neighborhood began to fill in, first with Irish and German immigrants, and then by Croatian and Slovene immigrants from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Karlovac areas.[1] Most Strawberry Hill residents at the turn of the 20th Century worked in the meat-packing industry, whose factories and lots were in close proximity to the West Bottoms neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas.[4]

The growing Slavic community established several parishes, which became centers of community life. St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish was founded in 1900,[5] followed by St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in 1906,[6] Holy Family Catholic Parish in 1908,[7] and Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in 1917.[8] During the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, the community was devastated, leaving many children orphaned. In response, St. John the Baptist parish established an orphanage in a former saloon, which operated for several decades.[2]

In the 1950s, the construction of Interstate 70 cut through the neighborhood, razing nearly one third of its homes. A 1982 neighborhood study described the impact: "In Kansas City, Kansas a tragic example of this attitude occurred in 1957 when 4½ blocks were demolished—219 households, a number of small shops and a neighborhood park—to make way for a new highway."[9]

In the early 1990s, the neighborhood had a new wave of immigration because refugees, primarily Croats and Bosniaks, fled the Yugoslav Wars.[10][11]

In the 21st century, Strawberry Hill has experienced a housing boom, with residents attracted to its historic character and proximity to downtown Kansas City.[12] This has led to concerns about gentrification and housing affordability for long-time residents.[13] The University of Kansas Health System opened a healthcare facility in the neighborhood in 2019,[14] and new apartment complexes have been developed along Central Avenue.

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b "A Sweet Memory Prompts A Strawberry Hill Inquiry". FlatlandKC. September 7, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "The Owners". Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  3. ^ Butler, Mary (January–February 2010). "Kansas City, Kansas: Strawberry Hill". This Old House.[page needed]
  4. ^ Betts, Bruce; Anderson, James; Kruger, Susan (October 1982). Strawberry Hill: A Neighborhood Study (PDF). Kansas City, Kansas Urban Planning & Design. p. 7. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  5. ^ "St. John the Baptist Catholic Church". Kansas Travel. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  6. ^ "History of St. George". St. George Serbian Orthodox Church. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  7. ^ "Our History". Holy Family Catholic Church. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  8. ^ "About Us". Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  9. ^ Betts, Bruce; Anderson, James; Kruger, Susan (October 1982). Strawberry Hill: A Neighborhood Study (PDF). Kansas City, Kansas Urban Planning & Design. p. 19. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  10. ^ Quilantan, Andrea (July 14, 2018). "Croatia's World Cup Run Energizes Immigrant Community In Kansas City, Kansas". KCUR. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  11. ^ Gottlieb, Martin (May 4, 2005). "KC's Growing Diversity Creates New Challenges". Voice of America. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  12. ^ Vazquez, Laura (April 2, 2022). "Want to explore Strawberry Hill? Start with this beginner's guide to the neighborhood". KCUR. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  13. ^ Ziegler, Laura (April 3, 2018). "Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Reflects Demographic Shifts In Kansas City, Kansas". KCUR. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Behavioral Health Facility Brings Outdoors in, Spurs Area Redevelopment". Medical Construction & Design. February 7, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Hill_(Kansas_City,_Kansas)