Center Street: Difference between revisions

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* [[3rd Avenue South]] (east) [[3rd Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
* [[3rd Avenue South]] (east) [[3rd Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
* [[4th Avenue South]] (east) [[4th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
* [[4th Avenue South]] (east) [[4th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
** 401: former location of [[P & J Grocery]] (1953)
** 401: former location of [[P & J Grocery]] (1953), [[Joe Antonio]] grocery (1958)
** 415: former location of [[Red & White Cafe]] (1953)
** 415: former location of [[Red & White Cafe]] (1953), [[Blitz Eat Shop]] (1958)
* [[5th Avenue South]] (east) [[5th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
* [[5th Avenue South]] (east) [[5th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
** 501: former location of [[Samuel Dennis]] grocery (1953)
** 501: former location of [[Samuel Dennis]] grocery (1953), [[San Francisco Dennis]] grocery (1958)
** 509: former location of [[Royal Nook]] soft drinks (1953)
** 509: former location of [[Royal Nook]] soft drinks (1953)
** [[Titusville Library]]
** [[Titusville Library]]
Line 89: Line 89:
* [[16th Avenue South]] intersects (east only)
* [[16th Avenue South]] intersects (east only)
* [[17th Avenue South]] (east) [[7th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
* [[17th Avenue South]] (east) [[7th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
** 1704 rear: former location of [[Powell Beauty Nook]] ([[Samuel Powell]] 1953)
** 1704 rear: former location of [[Powell Beauty Nook]] ([[Samuel Powell]] 1953), [[White & Williams Beauty Shop]] (1958)
** 1705: former location of [[Obie Juice]] barber (1958)
* [[18th Avenue South]] (east) [[8th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
* [[18th Avenue South]] (east) [[8th Avenue Southwest]] (west) intersects
** 1826: former location of [[Sloss Realty Co.]] (1953)
** 1826: former location of [[Sloss Realty Co.]] (1953)
Line 96: Line 97:
* [[20th Court South]] intersects (east only)
* [[20th Court South]] intersects (east only)
* [[9th Terrace Southwest]] intersects (west only)
* [[9th Terrace Southwest]] intersects (west only)
** 2028: [[Peace Baptist Church]]
** 2012–2028: [[Peace Baptist Church]] (1958–)
* [[11th Avenue Southwest]] intersects (west only)
* [[11th Avenue Southwest]] intersects (west only)
* [[Hollins Drive]] intersects (east only)
* [[Hollins Drive]] intersects (east only)

Revision as of 19:04, 25 March 2020

Center Street in the Smithfield community divides downtown from Western Birmingham.

Prior to 1930, Center Street South ran from the southern city limit along the west line of Section 11, Township 18 South, Range 3 West; to Avenue F. From there it continued as Mary Street through the Sessions Land Company addition to Section 3, Township 18 South, Range 3 West. In Elyton Center Street North continued as Broad Street and Square Street, then was known as William Street in Smithfield, as 11th Street in the Walker Land Company's "Wade track" [sic] and North Birmingham, and as Avenue A in Zion Heights. The 1930 Birmingham General Code renamed all of those sections as "Center Street".

The street is a defining border for the Birmingham street grid. East of Center Street, streets and avenues are designated "north" or "south" depending on their location relative to the Railroad Reservation. West of Center Street, both streets and avenues are designated as "west" if they are north of Valley Creek, while roads south of the creek are designated "southwest".

Prior to the 1950s, the street served as a border between residential areas zoned for white and black residents under Birmingham's segregation laws. As that border was challenged by attorney Arthur Shores, and eventually ruled unconstitutional, the district became the focus of a firebombing campaign aimed both at black families moving in and white families selling out. The neighborhood earned the nickname of "Dynamite Hill".

Route

The street is interrupted in several places. Beginning at its southern end at Green Springs Avenue, Center Street South runs due north, past Center Street Middle School to 6th Avenue South. where it bends with the Birmingham street grid. Continuing north by northwest, it jogs over two blocks at 2nd Avenue South in Titusville, then winds across the Norfolk-Southern Railroad tracks into Elyton. It then crosses Valley Creek and bends due north through Graymont, over I-20/59, and ends at Old Bankhead Highway in Fountain Heights.

Center Street North picks up at Finley Boulevard and runs for a few blocks to 26th Avenue North near the Birmingham Food Terminal.

Locations

Center Street North

Center Street South

References

  • Ridenhour, Norman Jr and Ralph Holmes (August 21, 1963) "No One Injured by Blast on Center Street". Birmingham Post-Herald
  • "Fun facts, historical tidbits and tips to find your way around Birmingham from traffic engineer John Garrett." (January 2, 2007) The Birmingham News
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