The Wells-Goodfellow and Hamilton Heights neighborhoods, collectively known as the Wellston Loop, boast a rich history dating back to the mid-1800s. However, it was not until the early 1900s, with the introduction of citywide transit systems, that the Wellston Loop emerged as a vibrant residential and commercial hub for a predominantly white middle-class community. In the 1950s and 1960s, demographic shifts began reshaping the area. As white residents left urban centers, driven by fears of racial integration—an event widely referred to as white flight—African American families established the Wellston Loop as a thriving Black community.

However, as white families departed, public transit services such as the Hodiamont Line streetcar ceased operations in these neighborhoods, further isolating Wellston’s residents and disconnecting them from economic opportunities in the city and nearby counties. By the 1970s, as the housing market faltered and key businesses and industries left, the Wellston Loop experienced rising crime, increased drug activity, and economic decline. Today, these neighborhoods have some of the highest percentages of vacant land in St. Louis.

A lesser-discussed factor in the Wellston Loop’s decline is the control exerted by governmental entities such as the Land Reutilization Authority, along with public and private organizations that held monopolies over land in the area. This made it difficult for community members to access, own, or control resources essential for sustaining and revitalizing the neighborhood. Additionally, industrial companies such as Wagner Electric, which has since left, contributed to environmental degradation. Toxic waste dumping disproportionately impacted the Wellston Loop’s low-income Black residents, creating significant health and environmental hazards. While this pattern is common in many urban Black neighborhoods across America, its effects on the Wellston Loop have been particularly devastating.

Since the 1990s, efforts have been underway to revitalize the community, with a focus on ensuring that residents have control over their neighborhoods and resources. These ongoing initiatives aim to restore the area while prioritizing the empowerment and leadership of its residents.