EARLY 1820s

The land that is now known as Northwest Landing is located just outside of the original Indianapolis Donation area that created Indianapolis in 1820.

The first Land Patents for Center Township were signed in 1820 and 1821.

Earliest accessible maps refer to the area by landowner names only, but those names can give clues to the founding of Northwest Landing.

EARLY TO MID 1850s

In 1851, Indiana Lawmakers passed an amendment to the Indiana Constitution that prohibited the immigration of free Black persons or former slaves into the state and criminalized Black settlement in Indiana.

Property records in 1855 indicate that the land parcel that is now the Northwest Landing neighborhood was owned, early in the state’s history, by Royal Mayhew, a Quaker and known Indiana abolitionist who owned and worked a large farm in Shelbyville, Indiana.

LATE 1860s

Laws enforcing the racial prohibitions were repealed in 1867.

MID 1870s

Indianapolis became a hub of communications and travel during the Great Migration that followed the Civil War and the area boomed in the post Civil War Era. Indianapolis’ Black neighborhoods of the north west quadrant were vibrant and vital places of commerce and life. Hard-working and industrious people found their way to the area to live and work.

By 1875 the name North Indianapolis and a rough outline of streets appearied on maps, establishing the neighborhood.

LATE 1880s-LATE 1890s

By 1883 those hand-marked streets on previously published county plat maps were surveyed and mapped with street names on printed and published maps of the area.

The 1880’s-90’s were marked by both residential and industrial growth in the area and by 1896, the city of Indianapolis had encompassed the North Indianapolis suburb. For a time the area was referred to as Ward 4 in some city records.

EARLY 1900s-EARLY 1910s

The innovations of the turn of the century were included in the thriving area and in 1901, the neighborhood was again referred to as North Indianapolis on documentation. Progress as an established neighborhood was marked by the presence of commuter train lines that carried travelers from Clifton and Udell streets to the city center and areas beyond. Those trains were upgraded to Interurban Trolleys running a circuit route through North Indianapolis by 1910.

The Great Easter Flood of 1913, triggered by heavy rainstorms and snowmelt, overwhelmed much of the city, including North Indianapolis and other areas with an unprecedented volume of water. The inadequacy of the city's infrastructure, including drainage systems and levees, exacerbated the impact. The White River and the Central Canal surged beyond capacity, flooding North Indianapolis and causing significant devastation.

Much of the city suffered catastrophic damage. Bridges, streets, buildings, and people were washed away during the flood in North Indianapolis and recovery efforts in Indianapolis’ Black neighborhoods were especially slow.

While the city as a whole worked toward rebuilding, there was a notable delay in replacing infrastructure and providing support to the affected Black communities. Limited access to resources, financial support, and political power hindered the recovery efforts in these areas.

Although Indiana was not a segregated state, inequality was apparent in Indianapolis as illustrated in the struggle to recover.

EARLY TO LATE 1920s

The Northwest neighborhood had public transportation restored and organized mapping resumed by 1921 though the homes and mostly working-class residents were slower to rebuild than the thriving Indiana Avenue area just to the southeast. The mixed industrial and residential use of the geography between the Central Canal and Michigan Road suffered its first bout of modern disinvestment.

Indiana, though lacking formal segregation laws, still experienced de facto segregation and systemic racism, which manifested in unequal access to resources and opportunities for Black residents.

Many Black Americans were denied access to housing, education, and job opportunities due to their race. Housing discrimination, in particular, was and is a significant issue in Indianapolis, and it impacted the residents of the Northwest neighborhood disproportionately as the lack of attention and funding for infrastructure improvements left Black communities more vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters and the economic disaster of the 1920s.

LATE 1930s to EARLY 1940s

The New Deal brought funding for public housing projects to Indianapolis in the post-Depression Era and in 1938 work was begun on Lockefield Gardens located directly south of the now Northwest Landing. Flanner House centered its operations nearby in 1944 and moved to their current location at 24th and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St in 1979. Founded in 1898 by Frank Flanner, Flanner House provided education, job training, and social services to the Black community. The organization became a cornerstone of the neighborhood and a symbol of Black resilience and self-determination.The organization also worked to address social and economic disparities faced by Black Americans in the city, such as poverty, unemployment, and housing discrimination.

Flanner House has provided essential resources, education, and social services to residents, empowering them and fostering community resilience. Today, Flanner House continues to make a positive impact, exemplified by initiatives like Cleo's Bodega and Cafe and UJaama Bookstore. These businesses contribute to the revitalization of the neighborhood by offering essential services and cultural enrichment. Flanner House continues to serve the community today, offering a range of programs and services for children, families, and seniors.

In the mid-20th century, the neighborhood faced challenges due to disinvestment and systemic racism. Local and federal government policies, such as redlining, resulted in limited access to financing, services, and investments for Black neighborhoods. This led to the deterioration of infrastructure, buildings, and services in the area.

EARLY 1950s TO EARLY 1980s

The incremental expansion of the IUPUI campus in the surrounding area, from the 1960s through 1980 resulted in the displacement of many residents and the closure of businesses in the Near Northwest. The university's expansion led to the acquisition of land and the demolition of buildings in nearby neighborhoods, which caused significant upheaval and trauma for Indy’s traditionally Black communities.

The physical division of the Black neighborhoods of Northwest Landing and Riverside by the expansion of the IUPUI campus and the presence of highways 65 and 70 has resulted in the fragmentation of the community. These divisions have historically disrupted social connections and economic opportunities for residents. Nevertheless, the community has shown remarkable resilience and determination to overcome these obstacles.

EARLY 1990s-TODAY

In recent years, Northwest Landing has faced challenges associated with being designated a food desert, meaning limited access to affordable and nutritious food options. This status has had detrimental effects on the health and well-being of residents. However, community-driven efforts, including organizations like Flanner House continue to make a positive impact, exemplified by initiatives like Cleo's Bodega and Cafe and UJaama Bookstore. These businesses contribute to the revitalization of the neighborhood by offering essential services and cultural enrichment.

Aspire House, another community asset, seeks to address food insecurity and create sustainable solutions for a healthier neighborhood by improving the quality of life for residents and promoting community development.

Disinvestment by the city over several decades has had a detrimental effect on Northwest Landing. However, the community's strength and determination have brought about a resurgence of Black investment in the neighborhood. Initiatives such as 16 Tech, a research and innovation district, have brought new economic opportunities and job growth.

Recent infrastructure improvements include the extension of the Indy Cultural Trail, the Canal Towpath, and the White River Greenway.

The area has been known by many names over the past century and a half but the community’s connection to the land has never been in question. The name chosen in 2021 by a newly re-established Neighborhood Association Northwest Landing honors both the rich past and bright future of this resilient neighborhood, recognizing that a community that is strong in its roots not only survives but thrives.