Center Street: Difference between revisions
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'''Center Street''' in [[Birmingham]] divides [[downtown]] from [[Western Birmingham]]. 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]]/[[I-59|59]], and ends at [[Old Bankhead Highway]] in [[Fountain Heights]]. | '''Center Street''' in [[Birmingham]] divides [[downtown]] from [[Western Birmingham]]. It was originally '''Broad Street''' in the town of [[Elyton]]. | ||
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 [[Bombingham|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]]/[[I-59|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]]. | '''Center Street North''' picks up at [[Finley Boulevard]] and runs for a few blocks to [[26th Avenue North]] near the [[Birmingham Food Terminal]]. | ||
==Locations== | |||
* 300: former site of [[William Walker, Sr residence]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 12:43, 26 September 2011
Center Street in Birmingham divides downtown from Western Birmingham. It was originally Broad Street in the town of Elyton.
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
- 300: former site of William Walker, Sr residence
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) Birmingham News