Woodlawn Historic District, Historic district in Natchez, United States.
Woodlawn Historic District is a residential area in Natchez spanning roughly 97 acres with 360 buildings representing multiple architectural styles from different periods. The structures show how the neighborhood developed from the late 1800s onward, with Renaissance Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival homes mixed throughout.
This area was originally an estate belonging to the Beaumont family but was divided and sold to African-American residents starting in 1867. The subdivision marked a turning point when formerly enslaved people and their descendants could own property and build their own neighborhood.
This area became a hub where African-American families built their community after the Civil War, with schools and homes representing their aspirations and independence. Walking through the streets today, you can see how residents organized their neighborhood with purpose and care.
The district is bounded by Bishop Street, North Union, Martin Luther King Street, and Woodlawn Street, making it easy to understand where to walk. Guided tours are offered in the area so visitors can learn the stories behind the houses and neighborhoods with someone who knows them well.
Author Richard Wright lived at 20 Woodlawn Avenue with his grandparents during his early childhood, and those memories later shaped his writing. Few visitors realize this neighborhood was home to someone whose stories would become important in American literature.
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