Boxtown, Memphis facts for kids

Boxtown is a special neighborhood located in South Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. It's found close to T.O. Fuller State Park. Boxtown is one of the oldest parts of South Memphis. It's home to White's Chapel AME Church, which was built way back in 1890. Many of the houses in Boxtown are called shotgun houses. These homes have a unique, long shape.

Where is Boxtown?

The main boundary of Boxtown is Sewanee Road. This road runs along the eastern side of the neighborhood. It helps mark where Boxtown begins and ends.

The Story of Boxtown

How Boxtown Began

Boxtown started as a community for freed people. This was soon after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863. This important document declared many enslaved people free. The community grew in Shelby County, just south of the city of Memphis.

The neighborhood got its name, Boxtown, because many of its early homes looked like railroad boxcars. They were long and narrow, much like the cars on a train.

Local Businesses and Growth

Many residents in Boxtown opened their own grocery stores. One of the most well-known store owners was S.L. Jones (1914–1991). He opened a grocery store at the corner of Sewanee Road and Fields Road. Later, he opened Jones Big Star on McLemore Avenue.

Becoming Part of Memphis

On December 31, 1971, Boxtown officially became part of the City of Memphis. There had been an earlier attempt to include it in the city in 1968, but that didn't happen. Many families have lived in Boxtown for generations. The Rogers family and the White family are two examples. White's Chapel Church was even named after the White family.

Protecting the Community

In December 2019, two companies, Plains All American Pipeline and Valero Energy Corporation, announced a plan. They wanted to build something called the Byhalia Connection Pipeline. This pipeline would start in southwest Memphis and go all the way to Marshall County, Mississippi. It was planned to cross right through Boxtown.

The project was described as taking the "path of least resistance." However, the people of Boxtown were very concerned about this new pipeline. They worried about its impact on their homes and environment. The community came together and protested against the pipeline. Their efforts were successful! The project was canceled in July 2021. This showed the power of a community working together.