In Columbus, Ohio, King-Lincoln Bronzeville is a historically African American neighborhood. Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s administration renamed the King-Lincoln District to highlight the historical significance of the King Arts Complex and Lincoln Theatre amid collaborations with investors and developers to revitalize the neighborhood.
The King-Lincoln Bronzeville Neighborhood Association proposed renaming the neighborhood Bronzeville to reflect its history in 2009.
The neighborhood’s origins can be traced back to the nineteenth century when freed and escaped enslaved people across the Confederate South began settling in Columbus. Originally settled further south by the Scioto River, many Black families relocated eastward in search of work in domestic service and industrial factories. Over the next century, the community grew to encompass the current-day district. Because of the Great Migration following World War I, restrictive housing covenants in other areas, and White flight, the Black population grew, and Bronzeville became the city’s most populated African American neighborhood.
By the 1930s, the area had developed into a self-sufficient community centered on Black businesses, services, and life. Bronzeville grew into an active entertainment district with four theaters (Lincoln, Empress, Cameo, and Pythian) and numerous jazz clubs. As the community grew, it expanded to include hospitals, schools, churches, and commercial establishments. The district would later serve as a congregational site for many civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr., in the 1950s and 1960s.
Nearby Places
Mayme Moore Park
Mayme Moore Park is 2.30 acres in size. The park is located at 240 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Blvd, Columbus, OH 43203, is close to The King Arts Complex. The most popular park in the Bronzeville King-Lincoln District is Mayme Moore Park. It is a neighborhood park and a gathering place for community events, activities, and celebrations. Furthermore, Mayme Moore Park hosts various community events, such as The King Arts Complex’s Free Jazz Series. Every Thursday during the summer, the community is invited to enjoy jazz musician performances and participate in various family-friendly activities as part of the Free Jazz Series. Bed Bug Exterminator Columbus
Lincoln Café
Lincoln Cafe, known as Zanzibar Brews, was established in 2007 at 740 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH 43203. The cafe’s name was changed to fit the Lincoln District theme. Lincoln Cafe is a progressive coffeehouse and spirit bar with various food, from soups to sandwiches. Lincoln Cafe provides live entertainment, such as Jazz and open mic poetry, every Wednesday through the weekend. The name “Zanzibar” comes from the East African Nation of Tanzia. The Lincoln cafe java is known for its island spices of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper.
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