Overview
Vine City, located west of Downtown Atlanta, is one of Atlanta’s earliest predominantly African-American residential neighborhoods. It was settled in the 19th century by large land owners, with separated subdivisions, schools, and churches for whites and African-Americans. Railroads and industrial areas, and Atlanta University played an important role in the neighborhood’s social and economic organization. The neighborhood was characterized by the presence of all social classes that shared community institutions.
The Atlanta fire in 1917 had a vital influence on the growth of the area as a favored African-American residential neighborhood. The family home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is located on Sunset Street, along with that of Julian Bond, one of the first African-Americans elected to the Georgia legislature in the 20th century. In the 1960’s, Vine City suffered a population decline with increased poverty and deteriorating conditions. However, Vine City still retains many of the housing patterns characteristic of African-American, residential communities in the South.