Up next in 10
Black People Moving to these 10 Small(ish) Towns
0 views
May 8, 2025
Black people are leaving big cities for these smaller towns or suburbs of big cities. Black Flight: https://youtu.be/itzzDD398Rw Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss any future videos! Check out the books we love and recommend in our Black Excellence Book Club: https://www.blackexcellence.com/store/ Some links are affiliate links, which means we earn a very tiny commission if you make a purchase. __________________________________________________________ Sharing interesting and noteworthy stories in Black culture. All content provided by Black Excellence Media, LLC is for entertainment purposes only. None of the information or advice provided is to replace professional advice. Website: https://blackexcellence.com
View Video Transcript
0:00
Okay, so last week we talked about major
0:02
cities that are losing their black
0:04
population. So what is the next logical
0:06
conversation to have? Where the heck are
0:08
all these black people moving to? And
0:10
that's what we'll be talking about in
0:12
today's video. Over the past decade,
0:14
several small, or might I say smalish
0:17
towns to midsize cities across the
0:19
United States have experienced an
0:21
increase in their black populations.
0:23
Whether driven by affordability, job
0:25
opportunities, or a desire for a higher
0:27
quality of life, black Americans are
0:29
choosing to settle in places that offer
0:32
economic mobility, community support,
0:34
and a lower cost of living. Gone are the
0:36
days when moving to the big city is the
0:39
only way to make it in this digital age.
0:42
You can make it here, you can make it
0:43
there, you can make it anywhere. Hi, my
0:45
name is Jared and I talk about
0:47
interesting stories and trends in black
0:49
culture because black culture is just
0:51
that interesting to me. If you share my
0:53
interest, hit that subscribe button and
0:55
let's deep dive into some interesting
0:57
black culture and history in every
0:59
episode. A lot of these small towns are
1:01
actually like an extension to big cities
1:04
that are within, let's say, about a half
1:06
hour of driving, but they're building
1:08
their own identity. Let me know if you
1:10
live in or close to any of these or if
1:13
you're planning to move. Maybe some of
1:14
these are just a great place to move,
1:16
too. So, coming up in number one, let's
1:18
start with Conjurs, Georgia. A suburb of
1:20
Atlanta. Conjurs has seen a steady rise
1:23
in its black population with
1:25
African-Americans now making up over 50%
1:28
of the city's residents. Many are drawn
1:30
to Conjurs due to its proximity to
1:32
Atlanta's thriving job market while
1:35
still offering more affordable housing.
1:37
Conjurs played a significant role in
1:39
Georgia's reconstruction era, serving as
1:41
a refuge for freed slaves looking to
1:43
establish independent communities.
1:45
Today, the town has a growing black
1:47
business community with local markets
1:49
and events celebrating African-American
1:52
culture, such as the Rockdale County's
1:55
NAACP's annual gatherings. Conjurs also
1:58
boasts an active art scene with black
2:00
artists and musicians regularly featured
2:02
in local galleries and events. At number
2:05
two, we have Lancaster, Texas. Located
2:08
just outside of Dallas, Lancaster has
2:10
become a popular destination for black
2:12
families seeking home ownership
2:14
opportunities. The city's black
2:16
population has grown to nearly 70%
2:19
driven by affordability, quality
2:21
schools, and a growing economy.
2:23
Lancaster is also deep rooted in black
2:26
history as it was once a key area during
2:28
the reconstruction era where freed
2:30
slaves settled and built their own
2:32
communities. The city was a stop along
2:34
the Underground Railroad and remnants of
2:37
historic black settlements still remain
2:39
today. The Lancaster Independent School
2:41
District has programs focused on
2:43
elevating minority students and the city
2:46
hosts several cultural events, including
2:48
Junth celebrations that draw crowds from
2:51
all over Texas. At number three, we have
2:53
Fagville, North Carolina. Home to Fort
2:56
Bragg, one of the largest military bases
2:59
in the country, Fedville has seen an
3:01
increase in black military families and
3:03
veterans choosing to settle there.
3:05
African-Americans now make up over 42%
3:08
of the population. The city offers
3:10
affordable housing, job opportunities in
3:13
defense and healthcare, and a strong
3:15
sense of community. Fateville has
3:17
historical significance as a center of
3:19
black activism during the civil rights
3:21
movement. The Airborne and Special
3:23
Operations Museum in Fyville highlights
3:26
the contributions of black soldiers
3:28
throughout the US, making it a
3:30
meaningful location for military
3:32
families. The city also has a thriving
3:34
black business district and community
3:36
centers dedicated to cultural education
3:39
and entrepreneurship. At number four, we
3:41
have Mapleton, Georgia. Another Georgia
3:43
town experiencing a demographic shift,
3:45
Mapleton provides a suburban lifestyle
3:48
with easy access to Atlanta. The black
3:50
population has surged in recent years,
3:53
making up nearly 60% of the residents.
3:56
Mapleton was even home to several
3:58
historically black churches that served
4:00
as a safe space during segregation.
4:03
Today, the town is home to several
4:05
blackowned businesses, and its community
4:07
centers frequently host cultural
4:09
festivals and networking events
4:12
celebrating AfricanAmerican heritage.
4:14
Mapleton's real estate market has boomed
4:16
with black developers investing in
4:19
residential and commercial spaces that
4:21
cater to the growing community. At
4:23
number five, we have Murphy's Bureau,
4:25
Tennessee. Murphy'sboro, located near
4:27
Nashville, has seen rapid growth in
4:30
general, including an increase in the
4:32
black population that now makes up over
4:34
25% of the city. The city is attracting
4:37
professionals and entrepreneurs thanks
4:39
to its economic opportunities and
4:42
growing cultural scene. Murphy'sboro
4:44
played a role in the civil rights
4:45
movement with black students from local
4:47
universities participating in protests
4:50
for desegregation. Today, it continues
4:52
to support black entrepreneurship
4:54
through initiatives such as the black
4:56
business boom organization. The city
4:58
also features historical markers and
5:01
museums that commemorate its black
5:03
heritage, drawing visitors interested in
5:05
the area's past. At number six, we have
5:07
Flugerville, Texas. This Austin suburb
5:10
has experienced a significant
5:12
demographic shift due to its tech boom
5:14
in the region. As Austin becomes
5:16
increasingly expensive, many black
5:18
professionals and families are moving to
5:20
Flugerville for more space and
5:23
affordable housing. The city has become
5:25
a hub for black tech workers with
5:27
communitydriven initiatives like
5:29
networking groups that connect black
5:30
professionals in the industry.
5:32
Historically, Flugerville had a small
5:34
but resilient black farming community in
5:36
the late 19th century. Today,
5:38
Flugerville schools have implemented
5:40
STEM programs that focus on diversifying
5:43
the tech pipeline, ensuring future
5:45
generations of black students have
5:47
access to tech careers. At number seven,
5:49
we have Rock Hill, South Carolina.
5:52
Actually located near Charlotte, North
5:54
Carolina, Rock Hill has become a
5:55
sought-after location for black families
5:58
and retirees. The area offers a mix of
6:00
urban convenience and suburban charm
6:03
with strong schools and community
6:05
initiatives that support minorityowned
6:07
businesses. Rock Hill even has a
6:09
significant civil rights history as it
6:11
was home to the Friendship 9, a group of
6:14
black men who staged a sitin at a
6:16
segregated lunch counter in 1961. Today,
6:19
their legacy is honored through
6:21
educational program and historical
6:23
landmarks. The city also hosts a variety
6:26
of cultural events, including
6:27
African-American heritage festivals and
6:30
live performances featuring black
6:32
artists. At number eight, we have
6:33
Madison, Alabama. With the growth of the
6:36
Huntsville metropolitan area, Madison
6:38
has become a prime location for black
6:40
professionals in the tech and
6:42
engineering fields. The city offers
6:44
highquality schools and a strong job
6:46
market, making it an attractive choice
6:48
for new residents. Historically, Madison
6:50
County was home to black land owners in
6:53
the late 1800s, many of whom face
6:56
significant challenges due to Jim Crow
6:58
laws. The US Space and Rocket Center
7:00
located nearby frequently highlights the
7:03
contribution of black scientists and
7:05
engineers in the aerospace industry.
7:07
Madison has also seen a rise in
7:09
blackowned tech startups with co-working
7:11
spaces and business incubators helping
7:14
to nurture young entrepreneurs. At
7:16
number nine, we're going to the small
7:17
little town in the north called Smyrna,
7:19
Delaware. Smyrna has seen an increase in
7:22
black residents as people seek quieter
7:24
suburban communities with access to job
7:27
markets in Philadelphia and Baltimore.
7:29
The black population has steadily grown
7:31
and local initiatives support blackowned
7:34
businesses and community programs.
7:36
Smyrna actually played a role in
7:38
Delaware's African-American history with
7:40
early black communities forming around
7:42
freed slave settlements. Sites like the
7:44
historic Smyrna Opera House host
7:46
cultural events focused on black
7:48
heritage. Additionally, Smyrna has
7:50
worked to preserve African-American
7:52
cemeteries and historical sites,
7:54
ensuring that the stories of past
7:56
generations remains part of the city's
7:59
identity. And at number 10 and last on
8:01
our list, we have Port St. Lucy. Known
8:04
for its affordability compared to other
8:06
parts of Florida, Port St. Lucy has
8:08
attracted many black retirees and young
8:11
families. The city boasts a growing
8:13
economy, good schools, and a lower crime
8:15
rate than many major urban centers.
8:18
Historically, the region was part of
8:20
Florida's black migration wave in the
8:22
mid 20th century when many black
8:24
families move from the deep south in
8:26
search of better opportunities. In
8:28
recent years, the city has seen an
8:30
expansion of black cultural festivals
8:32
and networking organizations that
8:34
support blackowned businesses and
8:36
professionals. Port St. Lucy also has a
8:39
thriving black arts community with
8:41
galleries and theaters showcasing the
8:43
work of African-American creators. The
8:45
shift of black populations to smaller
8:47
towns and midsize cities is reshaping
8:50
communities across the country. Many of
8:52
these cities are investing in economic
8:54
development, infrastructure, and
8:56
cultural initiatives to support their
8:59
changing demographics. Events such as
9:01
black business expose, cultural heritage
9:04
festivals, and historical preservation
9:06
efforts are on the rise, ensuring that
9:09
these growing communities maintain a
9:11
strong cultural identity. As these
9:13
trends continue, these towns and cities
9:16
could become even more attractive hubs
9:18
for black professionals, families, and
9:20
entrepreneurs looking to thrive outside
9:23
of major metropolitan areas. And now is
9:26
about that time. If you made it to the
9:28
end, you know what? I'm going to ask you
9:30
to hit that subscribe button and make us
9:32
or me a part of your family. Let me know
9:35
what topics you want me to cover in
9:37
future videos. I love hearing your
9:39
feedback and I'll see you on the next