The Oak Hill neighborhood first emerged in the mid-nineteenth century. People from many ethnic, racial, religious, and class backgrounds, including Czech, Slovak, Irish, German, Syrian, and Lebanese immigrants, African Americans, and native-born whites, lived and worked here. The area had many churches, schools, shops, and grand as well as modest residences, many of which no longer stand. Over the years, natural disasters, economic changes, and urban renewal altered the neighborhood's boundaries and layout and triggered blight and rebirth. Its diverse mix of residential, commercial, artistic, and historical features continues to make it one of the city's most vibrant and significant neighborhoods.