The Historic Barrio District area includes the communities of Logan Heights, Memorial, Sherman Heights, Grant Hill and Stockton; the historic Logan Heights area also included Barrio Logan. Environmental Health Coalition works throughout the Logan area, but especially in Barrio Logan.
History
Logan Heights/Barrio Logan is a microcosm of environmental racism. You can find it all here:
- A community of color created by racially discriminatory real estate covenants,
- Overcrowding, as more and more people are restricted to a small area,
- Encroachment of industry into residential areas,
- Effects of war and economic downturns on immigrant communities,
- Destructive effects of highways and bridges,
- Failure of government to provide services, provide protective zoning, and keep their promises, and ultimately
- The conversion of a once vibrant community into a land of junkyards, poverty, and substandard housing.
Much of this transformation took place from the 1920s to 1950s, but the community was physically torn apart in the 60s. In 1963, Interstate 5 was built through the middle of Logan Heights – the area to the northeast of the freeway retained the name of Logan Heights, while the area to the southwest became known as Barrio Logan. In 1967, the Coronado Bridge was built, dissecting the new area of Barrio Logan. Thousands of homes were destroyed and families displaced by these events.
But this period also sparked the birth of San Diego Chicano Park.
When land that was promised as a park under the bridge was instead to be turned into a highway patrol station, people revolted. Eventually Chicano Park was created and is now home to world famous murals, a free health clinic was established, many of the junkyards were eliminated, and in 1978 the Barrio Logan/Harbor 101 Community Plan was adopted.
Click here for a more detailed history of the area.
Demographics
| Area | 2010 Population | Non-White | Under 18 | 18 and Older | Families in Poverty | Renter Households |
| Barrio Logan | 4,890 | 85% | 26% | 74% | ||
| Logan Heights | 14,196 | 95% | 34% | 65% | 30% | 70% |
Environmental Racism
Environmental racism is not easily defined; it is the cumulative impacts of environmental, social, political and economic vulnerabilities that affect the quality of life of a community.