Geography of America’s Historic Black Main Streets

Original North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Building in Durham, NC – Source: today.duke.edu

Discriminatory Jim Crow Era segregation laws that were often brutally enforced throughout the South and the bigoted use of similar divisive tactics elsewhere in the United States led to the creation and development of African-American business districts and corridors in many cities. Historic Black Main Streets successfully catered to the daily business, shopping, service, financial, lodging, religious, and cultural needs of African-Americans who were otherwise being excluded from using white-owned businesses and organizations in the community.

Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa – Source: athometulsa.com

In some places, historic Black Main Streets were merely a block or two long, while in others they filled multiple blocks of the city. In all cases, they were vital in serving the needs of the local African-American population. Several of these historic Black Main Streets became quite notable. Two corridors in particular, Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Parrish Avenue in Durham, North Carolina were two (2) of the most successful examples in the nation – interestingly, both were nicknamed Black Wall Street.

Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa, OK – Source: pinterest.com

Parrish Street in Durham, NC – Source: https://localwiki.org/durham/Black_Wall_Street/Historic_Parrish_Street

Today, many historic African-America business corridors have largely disappeared and/or have faded from memory due to several reasons. These include:

Urban renewal projects that were used in the guise of community improvement and slum/blight removal (see example below);

Destruction of Wylie Avenue and The Lower Hill District in Pittsburgh – Source: pinterest.com

Freeway/interstate construction projects that were purposely directed through minority and underprivileged neighborhoods (see two examples below); and

Claiborne Avenue destruction in New Orleans – Source: bigeasymagazine.com

Hastings Street destruction in Detroit – Source: reddit.com

The repeal/overturning of segregation laws during the 1950s allowed Black Americans to reside throughout the community. As a result, both African-Americas residents and businesses tended to disperse over larger geographic areas instead of being concentrated in limited neighborhoods and business corridors. Secondarily, while African-American consumers were now both willing and able to frequent formerly segregated white-owned/operated businesses throughout the community, the same trend did not occur with white consumers visiting black-owned/operated businesses in sufficient numbers to offset the business lost as the Black Main Street’s local customer-base dwindled (Source: Black Wall Street).

Parrish Avenue in Durham, NC – Source: pinterest.com

A more recent negative impact on historic Black Main Streets has come from gentrification. While taking place nationwide, this phenomenon is particularly acute in the rapidly growing cities of the southern and western United States. East 11th Street in Austin, Texas and Williams Avenue in Portland Oregon are two noteworthy examples.

Walnut Street in Louisville, KY – Source: uofllibraries.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/old-walnut-street-african-american-businesses/

This primary list contained in this post identifies the specific street corridors that composed the business epicenters of the African-American community in each city listed during the time frame extending from the late 1870s to the mid-1950s. Sadly, of those listed below, only one (1) is actually located on a “Main Street.” During this period of American history, “Main Street” tended to be reserved for businesses that served whites only or which were owned by white business people. The most common street names identified for historic Black Main Streets were Second Street/Avenue and Washington Street/Avenue with seven (7) examples each; followed by Seventh Avenue/Street, Ninth Street/Avenue, and Center/Central Street/Avenue with five (5) examples of each.

Source: static1.squarespace.com/static/55933593e4b0847ca286c68d/t/58c744ad2994ca3a007dc2c9/1489454321154/CottonAve-WalkingTour-WebVersion.pdf

Also included on the primary list at the end of this post is the current name of the street corridor (if it has changed), as well as the nickname for the street if it had one. The nicknames themselves are quite interesting, as seen here just below:

Source: wnky.com

List of Street Nicknames

Back Street
Big Nine
Black Broadway
Black Wall Street (2)
Back-o-town
Catfish Alley
Deep Deuce
Deep Greenwood
Five Points
Golden Blocks
Greasy Street
Hot Corner
KY and the Curb
Mink Slide
Shab Row
Shake Rag
Soulsville – added 2/7/21
Street of Dreams
Sweet Auburn
The Block (2)
The Blocks
The Bottom (2)
The Cut(s)
The Deuces
The Hollow
The Line
The Sharp End
The Strip
The Triangle (or Halifax Triangle)
The Wedge
The Wharf
Wall Street of the Rockies

Source: visitcolumbusmms.org

As always, any additions, corrections, or suggestions to this post are most welcome. Here (below) is the primary list presented alphabetically be city.

America’s Historic Black Main Streets

Akron, Ohio – Howard Street

Source: remarkableohio.org

Alexandria, Virginia – Queen Street
Anderson, South Carolina – East Church Street
Annapolis, Maryland – Clay Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan – 100 Block of East Ann Street
Anniston, Alabama – West 15th Street

Source: hmdb.com

Asheville, North Carolina – Eagle Street (nicknamed the Block)
Athens, Georgia – corner of Washington & Hull Streets (nicknamed Hot Corner)
Atlanta, Georgia (2) – Auburn Avenue (nicknamed Sweet Auburn) and Decatur Street – added 2/7/21
Atlantic City, New Jersey – Kentucky Avenue (nicknamed KY and the Curb)

Source: hmdb.com

Augusta, Georgia – Ninth Street (nicknamed Golden Blocks and now also known as James Brown Boulevard)
Austin, Texas – East 11th Street
Baltimore, Maryland – Pennsylvania Avenue
Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Government Street
Berkeley, California – Adeline Street
Biloxi, Mississippi – Main Street north of Esters (nicknamed Back-of-town)
Birmingham, Alabama – Fourth Avenue

Source: styleblueprint.com

Blytheville, Arkansas – Ash Street
Bowling Green, Kentucky – North State Street (nicknamed Shake Rag)
Bradenton, Florida – Central Avenue
Brooklyn, New York – Tompkins Avenue
Brownsville, Tennessee – Jefferson Street
Buffalo, New York – Michigan Street
Burlington, North Carolina – Worth Street
Cambridge, Maryland – South Pine Street from Muir Street to Cedar Street
Canton, Mississippi – Hickory Street (nicknamed the Hollow)
Canton, Ohio – Cherry Avenue S.E.
Cape May, New Jersey – intersection of Lafayette & Jackson Streets
Carbondale, Illinois – North Washington Street
Champaign, Illinois – North First Street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina – West Rosemary Street
Charleston, South Carolina – King & Spring Streets
Charleston, West Virginia – city block formed by Washington, Shrewsbury, Lewis (now Norman), & Broads Streets (nicknamed the Block)

Source: hmdb.org

Charles Town, West Virginia – three blocks of South West Street
Charlotte, North Carolina – Brevard Street
Chattanooga, Tennessee – Ninth Street (now MLK Boulevard) (nicknamed Big Nine)
Cheraw, South Carolina – intersection of Kershaw & Second Streets
Chestertown, Maryland – Cannon Street
Chicago, Illinois (3) – 35th Street; South State Street; and Chatham-Grand Crossing area (75th & Cottage Grove to 79th & Cottage Grove)
Cincinnati, Ohio – area surrounding the corner of Lincoln & Gilbert Avenues
Clarksdale, Mississippi – 4th Street (now Martin Luther King Blouevard) – added 1/19/21
Cleveland, Ohio (2) – Euclid & E. 105th Street and East 55th Street
Columbia, Missouri – Walnut Street (nicknamed The Sharp End)

Source: columbiamissourian.com

Columbia, South Carolina – Washington Street
Columbia, Tennessee – East Eighth Street (nicknamed The Bottom or Mink Slide)
Columbus, Mississippi (2) – 4th Street South (nicknamed Catfish Alley) and Seventh Avenue North
Columbus, Ohio – Mount Vernon Avenue

Source: library.cscc.edu

Culpeper, Virginia – East Davis Street (nicknamed the Wharf)
Dallas, Texas (2) – 1oth Street in Oak Cliff and Elm Street in Deep Ellum
Dalton, Georgia – 600 block of McCamy Street (now South Hamilton Street)
Danville, Kentucky – 2nd Street

Source: waymarking.com

Danville, Virginia – North Union Street
Davenport, Iowa – 600 to 900 blocks of Harrison Street
Dayton, Ohio – West Third Street
Daytona Beach, Florida – Second Street
Denver, Colorado – around the intersection of Washington Street, 27th Street, 26th Avenue and Welton Street, located northeast of downtown (nicknamed Five Points and Wall Street of the Rockies)

Source: hmdb.com

Des Moines, Iowa – Center Street
Detroit, Michigan – Hastings Street
Dothan, Alabama – South Alice Street
Durham, North Carolina (2) – Fayetteville Road and Parrish Street (nicknamed Black Wall Street)
Evansville, Indiana – Lincoln Avenue
Flint, Michigan – St. John Street
Florence, South Carolina – 200 and 300 blocks of North Dargan Street

Source; greenbookofsc.com

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Sistrunk Boulevard
Fort Pierce, Florida – Avenue D
Fort Smith, Arkansas – Eighth and Ninth Streets
Franklin, Tennessee – Natchez Street

Source: hmdb.com

Frederick, Maryland (2) – North East Street for the 2.5 blocks north of Patrick Street (nicknamed Shab Row) and All Saints Street
Gadsden, Alabama – Sixth Street
Gainesville, Florida – Fifth Avenue
Gainesville, Georgia – Athens Street
Galveston, Texas – Gus’s Alley
Gastonia, North Carolina – The Square
Greensboro, North Carolina – East Market Street
Greenville, Mississippi – Nelson Street

Source: hmdb.com

Greenville, South Carolina – McBee Avenue & Spring Street
Hampton, Virginia – North King Street (now Quash Street) & Rip Rap Road
Hannibal Missouri – 1200 block of Broadway (nicknamed the Wedge)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – North 6th Street
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Mobile Street
Henderson, Kentucky – Second Street
High Point, North Carolina – Washington Street

Source: greensboro.com

Hopkinsville, Kentucky – Virginia Street
Hot Springs, Arkansas – Malvern Avenue
Houston, Texas – Dowling Street (renamed Emancipation Avenue)
Huntsville, Alabama – Church Street & Holmes Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana – Indiana Avenue (nicknamed The Avenue)

Source: theclio.com

Indianola, Mississippi – Church Street
Jackson, Mississippi – Farish Street
Jefferson City, Missouri – 600 block of Lafayette Street
Jonesboro, Arkansas – Baker Street
Kansas City, Missouri –18th & Vine
Knoxville, Tennessee – Jackson Avenue
Lakeland, Florida – West Memorial Boulevard & Florida Avenue
Laurens, South Carolina – North Harper Street (nicknamed Back Street)

Source: laurenscountyadvertiser.net/2019/09/25/family-gathers-to-remember-dr-pughsley-laurens-back-street-business-community/

Lexington, Kentucky – Deweese Street
Little Rock, Arkansas – West Ninth Street (nicknamed The Line)
Los Angeles, California – Central Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky – Walnut Street (now Muhammed Ali Avenue)
Lynchburg, Virginia – Fifth Street
Macon, Georgia – Cotton Avenue (now Forsyth Street and D.T. Walton Way)
Martinsville, Virginia – Fayette Street
McComb, Mississippi – Summit Street

Source: waymarking.com

Memphis, Tennessee (2) – Beale Street and McLemore Street (nicknamed Soulsville) – added 2/7/21
Meridian, Mississippi – Fifth Street & 25th Avenue
Milledgeville, Georgia – McIntosh & Wayne Streets (nicknamed the Strip)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Walnut Street

Source: wisconsinhistoricalmarkers.com/2015/09/bronzeville-milwaukee-walnut-street.html

Monroe, Louisiana – Desiard Street
Montgomery, Alabama – High Street
Muskogee, Oklahoma – Second & Market Streets
Nashville, Tennessee – Jefferson Street
Newark, Delaware – New London Road

Source: hmdb.com

New Bern, North Carolina – Five Points intersection of Neuse Boulevard, Queen Street, and Broad Street
New Iberia, Louisiana – Hopkins Street
Newnan, Georgia – East Broad Street
New Orleans, Louisiana (2) – Claiborne Avenue and Bayou Road
New York City, New York (Manhattan/Harlem: 3) – 135th Street, 7th Avenue, and Lenox Avenue; (The Bronx: 1) – White Plains Road – See separate listing for Brooklyn.
Oakland, California (2) – West Seventh Street and San Pablo Avenue
Ocala, Florida – West Broadway
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Second Street NE (nicknamed Deep Deuce)
Omaha, Nebraska – North 24th Street & Lake Avenue (nicknamed Street of Dreams)
Paducah, Kentucky – South 7th Street
Panama City, Florida – Cove Boulevard
Pensacola, Florida – Belmont & DeVillers Streets (nicknamed the Blocks)
Petersburg, Virginia – Harrison Avenue (nicknamed the Triangle)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 52nd Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2) – Centre Avenue and Wylie Avenue
Plant City, Florida – Laura Street
Portland, Oregon – Williams Avenue
Portsmouth, Virginia – Effingham Street
Raleigh, North Carolina – East Hargett Street
Richmond, Virginia – Second Street (nicknamed The Deuce)
Riverside, California – Park Avenue
Roanoke, Virginia – Henry Street
Rochester, New York (2) – Clarissa Street and Joseph Avenue
Rock Hill, South Carolina – Trade Street (now Dave Lyle Boulevard)

African-American Business District Monument in Rock Hill, SC – Source: oldeenglishdistrict.com

Rocky Mount, North Carolina – Douglas Block
Ruleville, Mississippi – Front Street (nicknamed Greasy Street)

Source: hmdb.com

Sacramento, California – 35th Street
San Antonio, Texas – East Commerce Street
San Diego, California – intersection of 5th & K Streets
Savannah, Georgia – West Broad Street (now Dr. Martin Luther King Drive)
Seattle, Washington – 23rd Avenue
Sewickley, Pennsylvania – 400 block of Walnut Street
Sherman, Texas – East Mulberry Street
Shreveport, Louisiana – Texas Avenue
South Bend, Indiana – Birdsall & Liston Streets
Springfield, Illinois – South Grand Avenue (nicknamed South Town)
Springfield, Missouri – Jones Alley
Statesville, North Carolina – Garfield Street
Staunton, Virginia – West Johnson Street
St. Augustine, Florida – Washington Street
St. Joseph, Missouri – Messanie Street
St. Louis, Missouri – Easton Avenue (now MLK Drive)
St. Paul, Minnesota – Rondo Avenue
St. Petersburg, Florida – 22nd Street South from 2nd Avenue South to 18th Avenue South (nicknamed the Deuces)
Tacoma, Washington – K Street
Tallahassee, Florida – Macomb Street
Tampa, Florida – Central Avenue

Source: hmdb.org

Thomasville, Georgia – West Jackson Street (nicknamed The Bottom)
Topeka, Kansas (2) – 400 block of Kansas Avenue and Huntoon Avenue
Trenton, New Jersey – Spring Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Greenwood Avenue (nicknamed Black Wall Street and Deep Greenwood)
Tupelo, Mississippi – Green Street from Barnes to Spring Streets

Source: hmbd.com

Tyler, Texas – North Palace Street [nicknamed the Cut(s)]
Waco, Texas – Bridge Street
Washington, DC (4) – U Street (nicknamed Black Broadway) in the Shaw neighborhood; 7th Street at T Street; 14th Street NW in the Columbia Heights neighborhood (see photo below); and Sheriff Road in the Deanwood neighborhood (see the second photo below)
14th Street -Source: hmdb.com