Freedmen Communities Map

Using an 1891 map, 10 of the 12 early freedmen communities are shown in the shaded areas. The boundaries for these communities are based on documentary evidence found in the Austin History Center archives.After the end of the Civil War, many formerly enslaved people migrated to Austin and settled in local communities, usually on the east side of town. These communities, known as freedmen communities, became established African-American neighborhoods and grew in population during the late 1800s. The 20th century saw them begin to decline, due to gentrification, city redevelopment, and other external forces. Some of these neighborhoods still exist today and have historical designation. Real estate advertisements around map border; duplicate copy printed on mylar and stored with rolled maps at Austin History Center.