List of African-American neighborhoods facts for kids
This article is about cities and neighborhoods in the United States that have a large number of African Americans. These places are either mostly African American now, or they have a strong connection to African-American culture from the past. This list includes areas where many Black or African American people live. It does not include people from the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, India, Polynesia, West Africa, or Sub-Saharan Africa.
The biggest African American community is in Atlanta, Georgia. Other large communities are in Washington, DC; Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Miami; and Detroit, Michigan. For example, about 80% of Detroit's city population is African American. About a quarter of the wider Detroit area (including Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties) is also African American.
Communities with Strong African American Roots
This section explores some of the many places across the U.S. where African American communities have thrived, both in the past and today.
Alabama
Birmingham is a historic city in Alabama. Some neighborhoods with strong African American ties include Ensley and Titusville. The Black Belt is a large area in Alabama. It covers 18 counties and has a total of 52% African American residents. Hobson City and Prichard are also notable cities.
California
California has many diverse communities. Los Angeles has several neighborhoods historically important to African American culture. These include Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Leimert Park, and Watts. In the wider Los Angeles County, cities like Compton and Inglewood have significant African American populations.
Oakland in the Bay Area also has many neighborhoods with deep African American roots. Some examples are East Oakland, West Oakland, and North Oakland.
Historically, Allensworth in Tulare County was an important all-Black town. In San Francisco, areas like Bayview-Hunters Point and the Fillmore District have been central to the African American community.
District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. has a very high percentage of African American residents. In the mid-1970s, about 75% of the city's population was Black. This was after many African Americans moved there during the Great Migration. Today, about 46-49% of D.C.'s population is Black. This makes it the largest African American percentage population of any state or territory in the mainland U.S. Important neighborhoods include Anacostia, Deanwood, and Shaw.
Florida
Miami and Miami-Dade County are home to several key African American communities. These include Liberty City, Little Haiti, and Overtown. Eatonville in Orange County is known for having the highest percentage of African American residents in Florida. Jacksonville also has historic Black neighborhoods like Brooklyn and LaVilla.
The Sea Islands along the northern coast of Florida are home to the Gullah and Geechee peoples. These are African creoles with unique cultural traditions.
Georgia
Atlanta is a major center for African American culture and population. It is a majority African American city. Many neighborhoods in Atlanta have strong Black communities, such as Adamsville, Cascade Heights, Collier Heights, and Sweet Auburn. Other cities in Georgia with significant African American populations include Albany and Augusta.
Like Florida, the Sea Islands along Georgia's southern coast are also home to the Gullah and Geechee peoples.
Illinois
Chicago is another city with a very large African American population. The South Side of Chicago is especially known for its Black communities. Key neighborhoods include Bronzeville, Englewood, and Woodlawn. The West Side also has important areas like Austin and North Lawndale. Many suburbs around Chicago, such as Harvey and Maywood, also have large African American populations.
East St. Louis in St. Clair County is another historically significant city in Illinois with a large Black population.
Louisiana
New Orleans is famous for its rich culture, deeply influenced by its African American heritage. Neighborhoods like the Lower 9th Ward, Treme, and Central City are central to this history. The Acadiana region in Louisiana also has several towns that have historically been majority African American.
Maryland
Baltimore has many neighborhoods with strong African American communities. These include Cherry Hill, Sandtown-Winchester, and Upton. Prince George's County is a large county near Washington, D.C., with a very high percentage of African American residents. Many towns in this county, such as Largo and Fort Washington, are predominantly Black.
Michigan
Detroit is a city with a long and important African American history. Many neighborhoods in Detroit, like Brightmoor and Conant Gardens, are known for their strong Black communities. Other cities in Michigan with significant African American populations include Flint and Southfield.
New York
New York City is home to many vibrant African American communities across its boroughs. Harlem in Manhattan is especially famous as the "Black Mecca" of African American culture, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s. In Brooklyn, neighborhoods like Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights have large Black populations. The Bronx has areas like Co-op City and Edenwald. In Queens, communities such as Jamaica and St. Albans are notable.
Ohio
Cleveland has several neighborhoods with strong African American populations, including Glenville and Hough. Nearby East Cleveland is also a predominantly Black city. Cincinnati has neighborhoods like Avondale and West End with significant African American communities. Columbus also has areas like Driving Park and the Near East Side.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is unique because it has several surviving "all-Black" towns. These towns were created after the Land Run of 1889, similar to the "Exodusters" movement after the Civil War. Examples include Boley, Clearview, and Taft. These towns were important places where African Americans could build their own communities.
Tulsa is known for Greenwood, often called "Black Wall Street" in the 1920s. It was a very successful Black business district.
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia has many African American neighborhoods. These include Germantown, North Central, and West Philadelphia. Several suburbs around Philadelphia, such as Chester and Yeadon, also have large Black populations.
In Pittsburgh, the Hill District and Homewood are historically important African American neighborhoods.
Texas
Houston is a major city with a large African American population. Key neighborhoods include Acres Homes, Fifth Ward, and Third Ward. Many suburbs around Houston, like Missouri City and Pearland, also have significant Black communities.
Dallas also has important African American areas such as Oak Cliff and South Dallas. Cities like DeSoto and Lancaster in Dallas County are predominantly Black. Fort Worth has neighborhoods like Como and Stop Six.
San Antonio's East Side and Kirby are notable for their African American populations.
Virginia
Richmond and Norfolk are major cities in Virginia with strong African American communities. In Richmond, Jackson Ward is a historic Black neighborhood. In Norfolk, Huntersville and Park Place are important. Petersburg and Hampton also have significant African American populations.
The Eastern counties of Virginia along the Chesapeake Bay, known as the Middle Peninsula, also have a notable African American presence.
Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and has many African American neighborhoods. These include Bronzeville, Harambee, and North Division.
See also
- List of U.S. cities with large African American populations
- List of U.S. communities with African American majority populations
- List of U.S. metropolitan areas with large African-American populations
- List of U.S. states and territories by African-American population
- List of majority-Black counties in the United States
