The Hilltop was once notorious for drug-related gang activity, most notably related to the infamous Hilltop Crips. The word "Hilltop" became synonymous specifically with Tacoma's gang problems, and more generally with urban pathologies associated with the US's crack epidemic. The Hilltop gained a reputation for drugs and violence with the Mother's Day riots in the 1970s. In the early 1980s, Tacoma civic leaders sought federal dollars by accepting a large number of Cuban refugees after the Cuban Adjustment Act. Around 1984, an unknown Los Angeles Crip association began organizing local Hilltop youth to sell primarily powder and crack cocaine. A yearlong violent struggle ensued. Eventually, Cubans involved in the drug trade were murdered or left town. By September 23, 1989, the Hilltop Crips had become powerful, with violence and homicides at a peak, and police departments overwhelmed. Hilltop made national news in 1989 when several United States Army Rangers got into a shootout with gang members in what came to be known as the Ash Street Shootout. Neighborhood watch efforts, increased police presence, commercial real estate development efforts along Martin Luther King Way, the creation of the Alcohol Impact Area and rising real estate values in all areas adjoining downtown Tacoma have served to lower the amount of crime in Hilltop. Hilltop now has less crime than many parts of the city.
Hilltop is served by three elementary schools: McCarver Elementary, Stanley Elementary, and Bryant Montessori, all part of Tacoma Public Schools. SOAR Academy, a public K-8 Charter School is also located on Tacoma's Hilltop. The Evergreen State College Tacoma campus is located in the Hilltop neighborhood. The downtown campus of Bates Technical College is located on the border of Hilltop and downtown.
Demographics
The neighborhood's population is 12,002 and remains racially diverse. 41% of residents are White, 30% Black or African-American, 12% Asian, 3% Native American, 1% Pacific Islander, 3% from other races, and 8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7% of the population. 32% of residents were below poverty line.
Boundaries
In 2007, the Tacoma City Council adopted new official boundaries for downtown Tacoma which included a portion of the Hilltop neighborhood as far west as South L Street and changed the name of the Hilltop business district to the Upper Tacoma Business District. In 2011, the City Council recognized that Upper Tacoma was an outdated name. The Hilltop Business Association, led by President Eric Crittendon, reclaimed the name "Hilltop," purchased new stationery and installed Hilltop banners along Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
Historic properties
Engine House No. 4 in Tacoma, Washington, at 220-224 E. 26th St., was built in 1911. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
