The South Side developed as one of Columbus' early neighborhoods in the 1800's, and served as a port of entry for industrial workers and their families. Most immigrated from Appalachia, Germany, Hungary,Italy, Romania, and Croatia.

    The South Side functioned as a center of manufacturing, and in the early 1900's became known as Steelton. These factories, with their noise and pollution, gave the southern stretch of Parsons Avenue the name "Smokey Row Road," later to be called "Steelton".

      With the introduction of the Parsons Avenue streetcar line, houses, churches and stores began to develop and fill in the empty areas around the factories. Three areas became important commercial districts: Parsons and Livingston, Parsons and Whittier, and Parsons from Barthman to the viaduct.

      A number of factors contributed to the decline of the industrial era on the south side, the most important of which was the Great Depression of the 1930's. Since that time, Parsons Avenue has evolved into a commercial area containing a wide variety of retail and service industries that serve the surrounding population, as well as residents from all over Columbus.