New Albany: History of Black Settlement
Tour Description
Black Americans, enslaved and free, had a presence in Floyd County from the beginnings of White settlement in the area. The 1830 census listed 265 Black residents. The population grew dramatically in later decades.
By 1860 New Albany had the largest number of Black Americans in Indiana. Some worked in shipbuilding, as wagon drivers and draymen, while others on the Ohio River worked as boatmen, firemen, cooks, engineers, and chambermaids. A few owned property.
Many lived in the West Union neighborhood, which became a target of racism as debate over slavery escalated. Black Americans lent support to Black freedom seekers fleeing the South and also served valiantly in the Civil War.
The history of Black Americans in New Albany is evident in many sites. Churches, public buildings, private houses, bridges, and cemeteries reflect the lives and experiences of Black Americans. This tour focuses on sites associated with the Black past. It highlights the diversity of the Black American experience and its centrality in southern Indiana history.