Flytown is a neighborhood just northwest of downtown Columbus encompassing portions of the present-day Arena District and western sections of the Victorian Village. In the 19th-century it was considered the center of the Irish American community in the city after the arrival of immigrants fleeing the Great Famine, and Naughten Street, now Nationwide Boulevard, was nicknamed the "Irish Broadway."
Flytown begin to spring up in the mid-19th century, when primarily Irish, German, and Welsh immigrants settled in the area to labor in nearby factories. The neighborhood comprised a 25-block area west of Neil Avenue, east of the Olentangy River, and south to a nearby industrial district along the Scioto River. The name "Flytown" resulted from homes which "flew up over night."
As the immigrants moved in, the neighborhood became distinctive. West Goodale became its primary artery as commercial establishments took root to cater to the inhabitants, including saloons and shops, and boarding houses sprang up to house the laborers. Naughten Street, now Nationwide Boulevard, became known as the "Irish Broadway" being the center of the Irish American community in the city. Industrial firms located in the area included Columbus Forge and Iron, Columbus Coop Foundry, the Simplex Foundry, Columbus Coffin Company, Capital City Products, and the Dresser-Ideco Company.