Discover our local African-American history!
The Diamond Hill and Green Hill neighborhoods were the center of the African-American community in Lexington during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These neighborhoods developed after the Civil War, when nearly 4,000 slaves were emancipated in Rockbridge County. They joined free blacks already living here since Lexington’s founding in 1778. During the Jim Crow era, when most businesses were segregated by race, nearly one third of the population of Lexington was African-American. This walk takes you past several sites of historical importance in our community.
*Please note, Diamond Street is very steep!
The Diamond Hill and Green Hill neighborhoods were the center of the African-American community in Lexington during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These neighborhoods developed after the Civil War, when nearly 4,000 slaves were emancipated in Rockbridge County. They joined free blacks already living here since Lexington’s founding in 1778. During the Jim Crow era, when most businesses were segregated by race, nearly one third of the population of Lexington was African-American. This walk takes you past several sites of historical importance in our community.
*Please note, Diamond Street is very steep!
