Little Africa, South Carolina facts for kids

Little Africa is a small community located in Spartanburg County, in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.

History of Little Africa

Founding and Early Years

Little Africa was founded around 1880. It was started by Simpson Foster, who was once enslaved, and Emanuel Waddell, a Cherokee person. They set aside about 500 acres of land for their relatives. This community was one of many independent African American settlements formed in the Southern United States after the Civil War.

The first people to live in Little Africa were descendants of Simpson Foster and Emanuel Waddell. For many decades, they continued the tradition of farming and living off the land.

Growth and Community Life

By 1910, leaders in the community had built the two-room Africa School. This school taught the local children. Later, one of South Carolina's first Rosenwald Fund schools opened there. Rosenwald schools were special schools built for African American children during a time when education was often separate and unequal.

Near the school, community members built Fairview C.M.E. Church around 1912. It was about one mile from Highway 9. The church members first gathered together around 1902 at the home of Emanuel Waddell.

During the time of "Jim Crow" laws and after the "Brown v. Board of Education" court case, new families moved to Little Africa. Jim Crow laws were unfair rules that separated people based on race. The "Brown v. Board of Education" case helped to end this separation in schools. People came to Little Africa looking for new jobs and a safe place away from unfair treatment. Even today, some families of Simpson Foster and Emanuel Waddell still live in Little Africa. This is about five generations since slavery ended in 1865.

Little Africa Today

Natural Beauty and Location

Today, Little Africa is a lively place with many different families. Some of these families are still connected to the original founders, Simpson and Emanuel. The area offers beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Pacolet River and Bear Creek also flow right alongside this lovely rural community.

Little Africa Park

Little Africa Park was created thanks to a generous donation. Charlie Proctor, Sr. and Thomas C. Blackley gave 8 acres of land to Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation. They wanted the land to be used to develop a community park for Little Africa. The park now has a playground, a grilling area for picnics, and a baseball field for sports.