Census Tract 21.02 | Kennedy Street | Washington, D.C.

Most of Census tract 21.02 was off limits to Black families in the first half of the twentieth century. The reason for this is that most of the housing had racially  restrictive covenants  - contractual agreements that prohibited the sale or rental of properties in White neighborhoods to Black people. The map shows the squares that had these covenants in place in Census tract 21.02.

The map to the right shows Census tract 21.02 in Washington, D.C. and the squares in it. The color of each square represents the historic presence or absence of a racially restrictive covenant. The areas shaded white areas did not have covenants. The squares shaded dark blue had at least one covenant. Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map.

By the mid 1940s, the area was completely White and Kennedy Street was the main  business  thoroughfare. This thriving business street featured White-owned businesses including an A&P Food Store, People’s Drug Store, Concord Market, Kennedy Delicatessen, the Kennedy Theatre, High’s Dairy Products, Terry’s Dress Shop, and the Concord Valet Shop.

Census tract 21.02 would rapidly change from a middle- and working-class White neighborhood to a middle- and working-class Black neighborhood. This racial turnover was facilitated by two Supreme Court decisions. In  1948 , the Supreme Court ruled that court enforcement of racial covenants violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866. In  1954 , the Court ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional, and the DC Board of Education adopted a policy whereby all students attended their neighborhood public school.

With housing and schools available to Black families, middle- and working-class Black families began to move into the row houses and apartments and send their children to Rudolph Elementary School - which is located inside Census tract 21.02.  Paul Wice , who lived in this neighborhood and attended Rudolph when it was all White, described this transition: “Between fall 1954 and fall 1956, … my neighborhood changed from 90 percent white to nearly 90 percent African American.”

According to decennial Census data, tract 21.02 went from 0% Black in 1940 to majority Black in 1960. By 1970, only 458 White residents remained, accounting for 8 percent of the population. By 1990, the tract was 96% Black.

This map illustrates locations with signs that associate with anti-loitering, anti-littering, anti-drug use, anti-vandalism, anti-graffiti, or neighborhood watch. The colored point symbols suggest signs discouraging disorder (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Vacant area or public street beautification includes well-kept landscaping/gardening work, street furniture, planters, and accessories beyond basic grass maintenance, as well as ground maintenance.

This is a Google Street View image that showcases street furniture/accessory that goes beyond basic grass maintenance at 5307 1st St NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in November 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates locations with well-kept landscaping, gardening work, tree branch accessories, or anything beyond basic grass maintenance. The colored point symbols suggest vacant area or public street beautification (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Commercial uses that align with cultural aspects of gentrification encompass cafés, trendy restaurants or bars, pet stores, art galleries, organic food markets, or boutiques.

This is a Google Street View image that shows Library Tavern at 5420 3rd St NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates locations that encompass cafés, trendy restaurants or bars, pet stores, art galleries, organic food markets, or boutiques. The colored point symbols indicate commercial uses that align with cultural aspects of gentrification (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Public courtesies signify an addition of either bus stops, bike racks, trash bins, or street lamps to the vicinity.

This Google Street View image shows the minimal presence of public courtesy in the vicinity of 441 Kennedy Street NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2009 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This Google Street View image shows the most recent public courtesies and accounts for a new bus stop and bike rack in the vicinity of 441 Kennedy Street NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in November 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates locations that have an addition of either bus stops, bike racks, trash bins, or street lamps to the vicinity. The colored point symbols indicate the presence of new public courtesies within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Signs or structures controlling traffic indicate the addition of speed signs, pedestrians crossing signs, bike lanes, or parking signs within the vicinity.

This Google Street View image shows the prior crosswalk shows no presence of a pedestrian crossing sign in the vicinity of 5324 Kansas Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in September 2007 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This Google Street View image shows improvement to the pedestrian crosswalk design, traffic light, and signs controlling traffic in the vicinity of 5324 Kansas Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates locations where signs or structures controlling traffic indicate the addition of speed signs, pedestrians crossing signs, bike lanes, or parking signs. The colored point symbols indicate the presence of new signs or structures controlling traffic within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Large scale developments include any new large buildings that occupy at least 75% of the block.

This Google Street View image shows the area prior to the development of luxury apartments at 5418 1st Pl NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in September 2007 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This Google Street View image shows the new large development of luxury apartments at 5418 1st Pl NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

Affordable housing includes all large developments that are affordable housing developments - meaning that the development includes units where people making less than the local median income can afford. The data for this measure come from  Housing Insights . 

This Google Street View image shows the area prior to the affordable housing units (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This is a Google Street View image that shows a unit where people making less than the local median income can attain affordable housing in the vicinity (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates new luxury apartments (coded yellow) and affordable housing developments (coded blue). The new structures were identified using Google Street View and then cross checked with the  Housing insights  tool to see if the new developments were affordable housing. The colored point symbols indicate the presence of large scale development within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Residences with new patio furniture or landscaping include patio or yard furniture or accessories that go beyond ordinary grass maintenance within the vicinity.

This Google Street View image shows the earlier conditions of residences indicate the minor presence of patio furniture or landscaping in the vicinity of 421 Missouri Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2011 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This Google Street View image shows a residence with a new presence of patio furniture in the vicinity of 421 Missouri Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in November 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates residences with new patio furniture or landscaping that go beyond ordinary grass maintenance within the vicinity. The darker shades of color suggest an increased presence of residences with new patio furniture or landscaping within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Residences with minor upgrades include slight renovations such as: a paint job and window, ground, or structure improvement.

This Google Street View image shows the prior residences indicate that windows are missing at 103 Missouri Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2009 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This Google Street View image shows the modern residences with minor upgrades indicate the addition of windows to the building at 103 Missouri Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in November 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates structures with slight renovations such as: a paint job and window, ground, or structure improvement. The darker shades of color suggest an increased presence of residences with minor upgrades within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Residences with major upgrades include structures with extensive improvement or renovation. Such as the addition of a story to the structure.

This Google Street View image shows the prior conditions of the residency at 401 Missouri Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2009 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates the presence of waste products such as paper, cans, bottles on a block. The colored point symbols indicate the presence of litter within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Unkempt vacant area or public street frontage includes unoccupied areas with untamed grass or the presence of overgrown weeds.

This is a Google Street View image that shows an unkempt public street frontage that consists of untamed grass in the vicinity of 5300 4th St NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates regions that consist of untamed grass or the presence of overgrown weeds. The colored point symbols indicate unkempt vacant area or public street frontage (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Abandoned structures are buildings that are uninhabited. Boarded up structures have boards on the windows and doors to protect the property from further damage and/or to prevent unauthorized access.

This is a Google Street View image representing an abandoned structure with boarded windows at 415 Missouri Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in November 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates residences boarded up structures have boards on the windows and doors to protect the property from further damage and/or to prevent unauthorized access. The colored point symbols indicate the presence of abandoned or boarded up structure(s) within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Structures with minor exterior decay consist of slight deterioration, decay, or damage, such as faded paint.

This is a Google Street View image that shows a building with minor decay on the roof at 14 Madison St NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in November 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates residences with slight deterioration, decay, or damage, such as faded paint. The darker shades of color suggest an increased presence of structures with minor exterior decay within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

Structures with major exterior decay consist of significant peeling or faded paint, obvious necessary repairs, or deteriorated or discolored siding or brick.

This is a Google Street View image that shows a building with major decay at 260 Longfellow SW Washington, D.C. 20011, in November 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates residences with major deterioration, decay, or damage. The darker shades of color suggest an increased presence of structures with minor exterior decay within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.

A building or property that consist of metal gates around the structure or on the structure's windows.

This Google Street View image shows a closer look at the metal fences or gates where a building has metal gates on the windows that pertain to 5501 1st Street NW Washington, D.C. 20011, in July 2019 (Source: Google Street View 2020).

This map illustrates residences with metal fences or gates around the house or bars on the windows. The darker shades of color suggest an increased presence of metal fences or gates within the vicinity (Source: ArcGIS). Please click on the double arrows in the upper-left corner of this map to access a visual detail of the symbols used on this map. Click on any indicator to access information about your chosen indicator.