In 1908 four black men formed the California Colony and Home Promoting Association. The Association purchased 20 acres along the Santa Fe rail line from the Pacific Farming Company, at a railway stop called Solita. They divided this land into individual parcels to form the first town in California to be founded, financed, and governed by blacks. Soon after the town was founded the name was changed to Allensworth in honor of the association’s president Allen Allensworth, retired chaplain of the all-black 24th Infantry Regiment. With the success of its agricultural development and business enterprises, the town quickly grew.
A Masterful Plan
By the year 1914 the town would not only have a schoolhouse it would become California’s first African American school district. It became a judicial district, had a Baptist church, a hotel, and a library that would be made part of the TulareCounty free library system. The year 1914 also brought a number of setbacks to the town. First, much of the town’s economic base was lost when the Santa Fe Railroad moved its rail stop from Allensworth to Alpaugh. In September, during a trip to Monrovia, California, Colonel Allensworth was crossing the street when he was struck and killed by a motorcycle. The town refuses to die. The downtown area is now preserved as ColonelAllensworthStateHistoricPark where thousands of visitors come from all over California to partake in the special events held at the park during the year. The area outside of the state park is also still inhabited.
A Dream Deferred
Col. Allensworth bought 800 acres along the Santa Fe Railroad line about nine miles east of Earlimart in the southwest corner of TulareCounty. He invited 42 select settlers to begin his colony. Of those, 37 showed up.
Together they built homes, a church, a store, a school and several other community builders. They farmed the land around Allensworth and started an experimental garden. Their intention was to build a factory for manufacturing finished products and to establish a college.
Allensworth flourished for almost 10 years, and at its peak, it numbered 300 families as hopeful African-Americans from around the nation joined those building a self-governing, independent community.
Several things occurred to defeat the colonists: In 1914, Col. Allensworth was killed when he was run over by two motorcyclists in Monrovia in Southern California.The town never got approval for its college, and it constantly fought a shortage of water. World War I and then a flat economy further drove residents off.
By the 1960s, the original colony's buildings had disappeared and Allensworth was home to a handful of farm laborers.
So, please take a moment to review the pages below, as we invite you to explore and join us on our quest, to keep this bit of our history and Colonel Allensworth’s vision alive. If you have any questions, please go to the ‘Contact Us’ page with your inquiry. If you’re ready to give us your support and learn more about the Friends of Allensworth go to the ‘Join Now’ page and become a member of the Friends of Allensworth now!
