The Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood was and early twentieth century street suburb in Indianapolis, Indiana. As the city grew, the neighborhood became surrounded by development, leading many residents to move further into the suburbs. The result was a distressed inner city community plagued by blight and crime. A subsection of the neighborhood known as Meridian Park became a National Register Historic District in 1990 after renewed interest in the distinctive architectural character of the area. While Meridian Park has thrived, the surrounding neighborhood has continued to struggle. The goal of my thesis is explore the federal loan insurance programs, integration challenges at Shortridge High School and in the city of Indianapolis, and differences in housing stock as the three major causes for the race and class stratification that has occurred in the Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood. / Introduction : community neglect and disinvestment -- The development of Mapleton-Fall Creek : the town of Mapleton through the 1930s -- History of racial tension in Indiana and Indianapolis -- Federal loan insurance programs and suburbanization -- Integration challenges at Shortridge High School -- Desegregation in Indianapolis public schools -- After the desegregation order : the 1980s to today. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Architecture