Whittier Neighborhood

Whittier Neighborhood

Early Development

The Whittier Neighborhood subdivisions were developed in the period after the Civil War. In the 1870s, a real estate boom occurred in anticipation of the city's connection with transcontinental railroad. This boom was heightened by the discovery of silver. As anticipated by the platters of the early subdivisions, the railroad extensions to Denver included the Kansas Pacific railroad on the 40th Avenue alignment north of Whittier.

Development of homes in Whittier followed in the 1880s and 1890s. The majority of the homes were built by owners of Denver businesses. By 1893, the Whittier Neighborhood housed African-American families close to the rail line. Their primary occupation was as porters working for the Kansas Pacific.

Racism, Segregation & Integration

In a hundred years of individual integrity by both African- and Anglo-Americans, the history has become almost lost; the issues of integration worked through in the Whittier neighborhood are more remote today because it is a neighborhood that works.

Beginning with the integration of the neighborhood over 100 years ago, the history of segragation and integration has played out decade by decade. When Walter Chapman, an African-American postman, challenged the color line by moving to 2112 Gilpin, a bomb exploded in his front yard. Another brave black, Charles Starr, moved in--only to have the house bombed again. The color line moved from west to east year after year, standing for an extended period between High and Race streets. This significant history of race relations should be preserved in order not to lose sight of the reality of segration in our city's history.

All historical information is quoted or adapted from "The Whittier Neighborhood Plan" by Dr. Jim L. Raughton.

Links

Whittier Neighborhood Association
Colorado Historical Society
Historic Denver, Inc.

About our association

Whittier Neighborhood Association

The Whittier Neighborhood Association, Inc. (WNA) is a non-profit, voluntary community organization committed to the betterment of the 99-square-block area of Denver known as Whittier.

The WNA's purpose is to actively address issues which directly influence life in our neighborhood and to promote cohesive community awareness and activity.

If you live in Whittier, you are part of the community regardless of whether you are a WNA member. As a good neighbor, Whittier needs your support and interest to help make a model of inner city living at its best.

Whittier Website

The official Whittier Neighborhood Association website can be found at http://whittierneighborhood.org/