A look at historic Blandtown

Nestled in the Upper Westside, signage welcomes visitors to Blandtown – a title deceiving to the rich culture of the area.

Named after Felix Bland, a freed slave who purchased the land in 1872, Blandtown became one of the first prominent African American neighborhoods in the 1800s, growing to over 200 homes by the 1930s. Despite a 1956 racism-fueled rezoning by the City of Atlanta, the area is now known for its persevering spirit.

Blandtown will soon become home to the Museum of Contemporary Art and a mixture of residential and studio spaces within the historic Goat Farm Arts Center area.

– Zidia Gibson, 360 Media, Inc.