Historic Sites North of Broad Street

A Snapshot of Richmond's African American Community in 1907

In 1907, the African American community in Richmond was thriving, despite the many challenges of segregation and systemic barriers. The Black population was estimated at around 35,000 people, contributing significantly to the city's economy and cultural life. Some of the key statistics and enterprises of the time include:

• Real Estate valued at $1,345,910, reflecting the economic growth and property investments of the community.

• Taxes paid annually by African Americans amounted to $16,753.69, indicating a strong economic presence.

• Large-scale businesses and institutions included four major insurance companies, each with $10,000 deposited with the state of Virginia.

• The Black community was home to a rich religious and educational life, with 23 Baptist churches, 3 Methodist, 2 Episcopal, 1 Catholic, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Christian church, as well as two colleges and a business school.

• Four banks, four drug stores, five weekly newspapers.

• A thriving professional class: fourteen physicians, four dentists, two real estate agents, eight lawyers, and a variety of skilled trades like barber shops, butchers, confectionery stores, shoemakers, dressmakers, and more.

• Several essential services: two hospitals, two hotels, two laundries, a cigar manufactory and an automobile company.

• Twenty-three printers and four first-class clubs, highlighting the cultural and intellectual dynamism of the neighborhood.

These figures do not account for the hundreds of smaller businesses that were also integral to the fabric of city’s economy. Some of the buildings highlighted in this project were over 100 years old in 1907! They stand as testaments to the resilience and success of the African American community at the turn of the century.