Is Southside safe?
Huntington, West Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Southside as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Southside
“Go with care. Southside is one of Huntington's most scenic and architecturally rich neighborhoods, offering direct access to the iconic Ritter Park. While violent crime is uncommon, visitors should stay mindful of opportunistic property theft and standard urban safety precautions.”
About the area
Southside is a quiet, tree-lined residential district filled with well-preserved historic homes and Victorian architecture just south of Downtown Huntington. It functions as a welcoming, community-oriented pocket anchored by expansive parklands and local institutions.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Park-Adjacent
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Southside
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 62/100
Bicyclists enjoy easy access to the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH) trail segments and paved multi-use loops throughout Ritter Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Direct adjacency to Ritter Park, featuring rose gardens, playgrounds, and walking paths
- Historic Southside district features well-maintained, architecturally significant housing stock
- Lower violent crime rates relative to the broader Huntington metro area
Cons
- Property crime, including vehicle break-ins and porch theft, occurs periodically
- Uneven street lighting across some residential side streets and rear alleys
- Pockets of rental turnover closer to the commercial and rail corridors to the north
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in the residential core of Southside, though individuals occasionally travel through along primary corridors connecting to Downtown Huntington services.
What Southside is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and residents heading toward Ritter Park and downtown.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Pleasant and lively around park spaces with steady foot traffic and a relaxed neighborhood feel.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and residential, though reduced lighting on certain avenues calls for basic situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are largely deserted; visitors should ensure vehicles are locked and stick to primary lighted streets.
Transit, parking and getting around
The Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) provides bus service connecting Southside to downtown Huntington and surrounding Cabell County destinations via routes along 8th and 5th Avenues.
Free on-street residential parking is abundant throughout most side streets, and dedicated parking lots are readily available at Ritter Park.
Things to do in Southside
- Stroll through the nationally recognized Ritter Park Rose Garden and loop walking trail
- Take an architectural walking tour admiring early 20th-century Craftsman and Colonial Revival homes
- Walk or bike along the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH) network connecting to downtown
Local favorites
- Nomada Bakery · Bakery & Cafe · 4.8★ (360)A neighborhood favorite serving artisanal pastries, empanadas, and espresso drinks.
- La Famiglia · Italian Restaurant · 4.6★ (470)Cozy, traditional Italian trattoria known for authentic pasta dishes, pizza, and relaxed hospitality.
- Grindstone Coffeeology · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (280)Popular local cafe offering specialty pour-overs, cold brews, and baked goods in a laid-back setting.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.