Elmwood Park was one of Columbia’s first suburbs and reflects the City’s early 20th century development, as well as national trends. Elmwood Park is situated just north of Columbia’s first northern boundary— Upper Street, today know as Elmwood Avenue. Settled predominately by Columbia’s white, middle, and business classes, Elmwood attracted residents with its proximity to downtown and the streetcar line, but with all the amenities of a “suburban retreat.” Although some lots were settled prior to the turn of the century, major settlement occurred after the first public sale of subdivided lots in the spring of 1905.
