Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park California State Historic Park
The restored buildings in Allensworth rise from the San Joaquin Valley
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Location	Tulare County, California  United States
Nearest city	Earlimart, California
Coordinates	35°51′49″N 119°23′20″W / 35.86361°N 119.38889°W / 35.86361; -119.38889Coordinates: 35°51′49″N 119°23′20″W / 35.86361°N 119.38889°W / 35.86361; -119.38889
Area	3,715 acres (15.03 km2)
Established	1973
Governing body	California Department of Parks and Recreation
Allensworth Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Built	1908
NRHP Reference #	72000263
Added to NRHP	February 23, 1972

Allensworth State Historic Park
Location	Palmer Avenue Allensworth, California
Coordinates	35°51′50″N 119°23′08″W / 35.8640°N 119.3856°W / 35.8640; -119.3856
Line(s)	San Joaquin
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	2
Construction
Disabled access	No
Other information
Station code	CNL
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station Corcoran toward Oakland-Jack London Square or Sacramento San Joaquin (Limited service for group tours only) Wasco toward Bakersfield

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is a state park unit of California, United States, preserving Allensworth, the only California town to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans. The small farming community was founded in 1908 by Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth, Professor William Payne, William Peck, a minister; John W. Palmer, a miner; and Harry A. Mitchell, a real estate agent, dedicated to improving the economic and social status of African Americans. Colonel Allensworth (1842–1914) had a friendship with Booker T. Washington and was inspired by the Tuskegee Institute and development in its neighboring town. Allensworth hoped to develop the "Tuskegee of the West".

Uncontrollable circumstances, including a drop in the area's water table, resulted in the town's demise. Allensworth is now an unincorporated area in Tulare County.

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is also an Amtrak conditional-flag-stop train station on the San Joaquin trains.

In 1908, United States Army veteran Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth and Professor William Payne, Rev. William Peck and John W. Palmer, and Harry A. Mitchell sought to build a town where African Americans could own property, learn, and live the American Dream. They chose an 800-acre (320 ha) Tulare County site for a new town near the present location of Earlimart, California, and about 45 miles (72 km) north of Bakersfield. The site was chosen for fertile soil, adequate water, and its location along a railroad corridor. Black men and women — craftsmen, artisans, businessmen, farmers, ranchers, retired military — moved their families to the newly purchased land. In 1914, the California Eagle newspaper stated that Allensworth deeded land was worth more than $112,000. The affairs of the town were administered by a council form of government known as the Allensworth Progressive Association, which directed the community through its formative and critical early years. Men and women held responsible positions in the community.