List of streets named after Martin Luther King Jr. facts for kids

Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Oak Park, Sacramento, California (December 2014)

Streets named after Martin Luther King Jr. are found in many cities across the United States. You can also find streets honoring him in other countries like Italy and Israel. The very first street in the U.S. named after him was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chicago, way back in 1968.

More and more streets are being named after King every year. About 70% of these streets are in states that were part of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. These states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. King's home state of Georgia has the most, with 105 streets named after him as of 2006.

By 2003, over 600 American cities had a street named after King. This number grew to more than 900 streets in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico by 2014. In 2019, National Geographic showed an interactive map with over 1,000 streets worldwide named after King.

Some business owners in these areas have worried that naming a street after Martin Luther King Jr. might be bad for business. However, many communities see it as a way to honor his important work for civil rights.

Here are some examples of streets named after King in the United States:

Streets in the United States

Alabama

Selma: In 1976, Sylvan Street was renamed Martin Luther King Street. King spent many days here in the 1960s, working for civil rights. He often spoke at First Baptist Church and Brown Chapel. Brown Chapel is famous for being in a Time magazine photo of King. It was also the starting point for the historic "Bloody Sunday" march in 1965. Interestingly, this street crosses Jefferson Davis Avenue, which is named after the president of the Confederacy.

Alaska

Anchorage: A new road, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, was built and named in 2010. People had wanted a street named after King in Anchorage for a long time. After some earlier ideas didn't work out, the Anchorage Assembly finally approved this street in 2006. This avenue reminds everyone of King's important work as a civil rights leader.

Arizona

Phoenix: Phoenix was one of the last big cities without a main street named after Martin Luther King Jr. In 2015, a 13-mile (21 km) part of Broadway Road in South Phoenix was unofficially renamed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Broadway still keeps its original name, but the MLK Boulevard signs are mostly at intersections with traffic lights.

Arkansas

Fayetteville: In January 2008, the Fayetteville City Council voted to rename Sixth Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. This street goes through the city's historically Black neighborhood and along the southern edge of the University of Arkansas campus.
Little Rock: In 1992, High Street became Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. This street starts near the Arkansas State Capitol building and is often used for parades and community events. The Martin Luther King Jr. Interdistrict Magnet Elementary School is also on this street.

California

Los Angeles: In 1983, Santa Barbara Avenue in South Los Angeles was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. This happened three years before Martin Luther King's birthday became a national holiday. The first ever Kingdom Day Parade was held on this street, and it's now an annual tradition. People often shorten the name to King Blvd. or MLK Blvd.
Oakland and Berkeley: Grove Street, which ran for several miles from Downtown Oakland into North Berkeley, was renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in 1983–1984. This street used to be a dividing line for where minority groups could live or buy property.
San Diego: In 1989, a part of SR 94 was renamed the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway.
San Francisco: Martin Luther King Drive is one of two main roads that run almost the entire length of San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Park. It used to be called South Drive.

Colorado

Denver and Aurora: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a major street in eastern Denver. It was formerly East 32nd Avenue and is a divided parkway.

Connecticut

New Haven: Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which was once North Frontage Road, is a main entrance into New Haven, where Yale University is located. The name was officially given in 2011 after a lot of effort.

Delaware

Wilmington: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard connects Lancaster Avenue to Front Street, going from I-95 to the Wilmington Amtrak Station. It helps people from the suburbs get to Wilmington's waterfront and downtown. It was renamed in 1989.

Florida

Fort Myers: Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard (formerly Anderson Avenue) is Florida State Road 82, running from US 41 east to I-75.
Jacksonville: The Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway is a freeway bypass around downtown Jacksonville.
Miami area: North 62nd Street is called Martin Luther King Boulevard. It's believed to have gotten this name in the mid-1970s.
Riviera Beach, Florida: In 1994, 8th Street was renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Since 2015, this highway crosses the renamed President Barack Obama Highway, which is the first time these two roadway names intersect in America.
St. Petersburg: Ninth Street was given the additional name of M.L. King Jr. Street in 1987, and then fully renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in 2003.
Tampa: On April 11, 1968, just one week after King's assassination, Tampa became the first city to rename a street after him. The city council voted to change Main Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard. In 1989, the name was extended to include the entire stretch of Buffalo Avenue. Notable places like Raymond James Stadium are on this boulevard.

Georgia

Atlanta: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Atlanta (King's hometown) runs east–west through the city. It goes through the West side, West End, and downtown. This street is a major landmark for visitors because it borders the Atlanta University Center, a group of historically black colleges and universities that includes King's own Morehouse College.
Savannah: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a main north–south road on the west side of Savannah. It was renamed from West Broad Street in 1991 and was important as a center for Black-owned businesses. A memorial statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. was unveiled at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in 2022.

Idaho

Pocatello: Martin Luther King Jr Way runs through the middle of the Idaho State University campus.

Illinois

Chicago: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (formerly South Park Way) was named in 1968. It runs from Cermak Road to 115th Street on the South Side. Locals often just call it King Drive. It features a tribute to the Great Migration and a Victory Monument for the Eighth Regiment.

Indiana

Indianapolis: Northwestern Avenue was renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in 1985. There have been ideas to extend this name much further.

Iowa

Des Moines: Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway (formerly Harding Road) was extended with a new bypass section south of Downtown. This new section is an east–west route.

Kansas

Kansas City: A part of US 24 and Fifth Street are designated the "Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway".
Manhattan: A street runs past Ahearn Gymnasium, where King gave his last speech at a university.
Wichita: A portion of Interstate 135 is part of the "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial highway".

Kentucky

Louisville: I-65 in Louisville is named the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. Also, the street in front of the federal building is named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Place.

Louisiana

New Orleans: Most of Melpomene Avenue was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. You can find several murals of King along this boulevard. It's also near a King statue and memorial on Claiborne Avenue. The boulevard is part of New Orleans' yearly Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade route. This street is in Central City, which was historically the city's largest African American business area.

Maryland

Baltimore: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was originally called Harbor City Boulevard but was renamed shortly after it opened. It separates the mostly Black neighborhoods of West Baltimore from the downtown business area.

Massachusetts

Worcester: In 2009, East Central Street, a main road connecting I-290 to the city center, was renamed "MLK Jr. Boulevard". The highway signs were changed on Martin Luther King Day that year.

Michigan

Detroit: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (formerly Myrtle Street) travels about 2 miles (3.2 km) through the west side of Detroit.
Lansing: Martin Luther King Boulevard travels north–south along the western side of Lansing. It was formerly called Logan Street until 1994.

Minnesota

Saint Paul: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard runs in front of the Minnesota State Capitol. It was renamed in 2002 from Constitution Avenue.

Mississippi

Jackson: Whitfield Mills Street, in a mostly African-American neighborhood, was changed to M.L.K. Jr. Drive in the 1980s. This street crosses Medgar Evers Boulevard at a Jackson landmark called Freedom Corner. It is also the site of one of the largest Martin Luther King Day parades in the nation.

Missouri

Kansas City: Paseo Boulevard was renamed to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in January 2019. However, in November 2019, residents voted to change the name back to The Paseo. As of April 2021, Blue Parkway was given the MLK name.
St. Louis: Dr. Martin Luther King Drive is a major east–west road in St. Louis. There is also a part of it near the Martin Luther King Bridge.

Nevada

Las Vegas area: Highland Drive north of Oakey Boulevard was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the 1990s. It connects downtown Las Vegas to newer parts of North Las Vegas and passes through historic "West Las Vegas," an older, mostly Black neighborhood.

New Jersey

Atlantic City: Runs from the boardwalk to US 30. It was formerly Illinois Avenue, famous from the game Monopoly.
Jersey City: Martin Luther King Jr. made two speeches in Jersey City. Originally called Jackson Avenue, Martin Luther King Drive was named in his honor in 1976. In 2000, a Martin Luther King Drive station for the light rail opened, featuring a memorial and art about King's life and the Civil Rights Movement.
Newark: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard runs along the western edge of downtown Newark, separating the buildings of Rutgers and NJIT. It was previously named High Street.

New Mexico

Albuquerque: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was a former section of Grand Avenue, renamed in 1994. It runs near the University of New Mexico campus.

New York

New York City:
- 125th Street in Harlem is designated Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It crosses Malcolm X Boulevard. The street is home to the Apollo Theater, a famous place for Black music and entertainment.
- NY 440 in Staten Island is called the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway.

North Carolina

Chapel Hill: NC 86 north from Chapel Hill is named Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It was formerly Airport Road. The street signs used to show both names, but the "Historic Airport Road" sign was removed in 2017.
Charlotte: In 2006, Second Street in Uptown was renamed to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It goes through what was once the mostly Black neighborhood of Brooklyn, which was torn down in the 1960s for city growth.
Fayetteville: The Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway is a freeway in Fayetteville.
Winston-Salem: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is a 3.7-mile (6.0 km) road that starts downtown and ends in the Southeast part of the city. It is mostly African-American. A section of it is honorarily called The Golden Mile. Every Martin Luther King Day, a parade is held here. It passes through the campus of Winston-Salem State University, a HBCU, and Bowman Gray Stadium.

Ohio

Akron: The Ohio State Route 59 freeway in downtown Akron is now the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway.
Cincinnati: Martin Luther King Drive is a major road that crosses Cincinnati, connecting the west side to the east side through several historic neighborhoods.
Cleveland: In 1981, Liberty Boulevard was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. This drive goes through the Rockefeller Park and is known for its old overpasses and the unique Cleveland Cultural Gardens, which celebrate the many different cultures in Cleveland.
Toledo: The Cherry Street Bridge, a bridge over the Maumee River, has been renamed the Martin Luther King Bridge.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: The northern part of Eastern Avenue was renamed "N. Martin Luther King Avenue" to honor his impact. This avenue is the main north–south road in Oklahoma City's Eastside section, which is home to the state's largest African American community. Important places like the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Remington Park are along this avenue.
Tulsa: I-244 is known as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Expressway. Also, part of North Cincinnati Avenue was renamed "Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard" in 2012.

Oregon

Portland: Union Avenue was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in 1989. It's a major road that crosses the northern half of Portland and goes through neighborhoods where African-Americans were once only allowed to live.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is on the west side of the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park. It was formerly West River Drive.
Pittsburgh: The Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway is a special bus lane that travels 9 miles (14 km) from Downtown Pittsburgh to Rankin. It is used by many people every weekday.

South Carolina

Greenville: A part of SC 291 and US 25 in Greenville is called the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway.

Tennessee

Bristol: Martin Luther King Boulevard starts in Bristol, Tennessee, and crosses into Virginia. This is one of only two streets named after King that crosses a state line.
Memphis: A part of the Interstate 240/Interstate 40 loop is named the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. Also, Linden Avenue is named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Nashville: On April 3, 2018, the city of Nashville renamed Charlotte Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Texas

Austin: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (formerly 19th Street) is a major east–west road that borders the University of Texas in Austin.
Dallas: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a major street in South Dallas, running from Fair Park. It was originally Forest Avenue until it was renamed in 1981. It crosses Malcolm X Boulevard, another important street in South Dallas.
Houston: Martin Luther King Boulevard (formerly South Park Boulevard until 1976) travels through the mostly Black neighborhoods of South Park, Sunnyside, and South Acres.
San Antonio: Martin Luther King Drive (formerly Nebraska St.) is located on San Antonio's east side, which is one of two mostly African American areas in the city. St. Phillips College, a community college and HBCU, is on this drive. It crosses I-10 near Martin Luther King Park, which hosts one of the largest Martin Luther King Day parades in the United States.
Texarkana: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a one-way road carrying US 67 westbound. This is another street named after King that crosses a state line.

Utah

Salt Lake City (honorary only): Street signs for 600 South bear the honorary name "Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard." This means it's a special name, but for mailing addresses, it's still 600 South.

Virginia

Norfolk and Portsmouth: US 58 is called the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway as it goes through the Midtown Tunnel.

Washington

Seattle: In 1983, an 8-mile (13 km) part of State Route 900 was renamed from Empire Way to Martin Luther King Jr. Way. At that time, about 70 percent of the people in the area were Black. Seattle is also in King County, which changed its namesake from William Rufus King to Martin Luther King Jr. in 1986.
Tacoma: K Street was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Way in 1993.

Washington, D.C.

Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue (formerly Nichols Avenue SE) in Washington, D.C., is the main shopping street in the part of Southeast Washington east of the Anacostia River. It crosses Malcolm X Avenue SE and is near the home of Frederick Douglass, a famous abolitionist.

West Virginia

Charles Town: West Virginia Route 51 is also called Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Wisconsin

Street sign designating 2nd Street as "honorary" Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Milwaukee: N. 3rd Street was renamed N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Locals often call it King Drive. This 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch goes through neighborhoods that were once German immigrant areas but are now mostly African-American. A branch of the Milwaukee Public Library on this road is also named the Martin Luther King Library.
Racine: Dr. Martin Luther King Drive was formerly Milwaukee Avenue. It was renamed in the 1980s. At its southern end, there is a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, which is the main feature of a small park called Dr. Martin Luther King Plaza.