Ghost Town Founded by African Americans

Earlimart, California

A unique historic California town devoted to living with self-respect, Allensworth was founded, financed and governed by African Americans in 1908. The utopian project was led by Colonel Allen Allensworth, formerly enslaved, who had become the highest ranking black U.S. military man -- a colonel. The community survived until an unexpected drop in the water table turned it into a ghost town.

Now Allensworth is a state park, with a 4-block area being restored to its 1910 era glory, when there were about 300 residents. The Park Visitor Center shows a 30 minute film.