Somerville in Fayette County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Tent City

Photographed by Curtis Wise, August 21, 2018

1. Tent City Marker

Inscription. A number of black Fayette County sharecroppers who participated in a voter registration drive were evicted from their lands in 1959-60. Many of them moved to "Tent City", also called "Freedom Village", where they lived in military surplus tents furnished by a local group. The first Tent City was established on County Road 195. 5 miles southwest of Somerville: a second one was located off Highway 57, approximately 4 miles east of Moscow, Tenn.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 98.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights.

Location. 35° 13.246′ N, 89° 20.975′ W. Marker is in Somerville, Tennessee, in Fayette County. It is on Tennessee Route 76 south of LaGrange Road, on the left when traveling south. Located after a fork in road where State Route 76 and LaGrange Road split. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Somerville TN 38068, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee

and in Greater Memphis.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Organization of Fayette County (approx. 1.6 miles away); Oakland Presbyterian Church (approx. 9.4 miles away); Hardeman County/Fayette County

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 11 miles away); Battle of Moscow (approx. 11½ miles away); Battle of Moscow / Union Troops of African Descent (approx. 11½ miles away); Cypress-Davis Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 12.8 miles away); James K. Polk / James C. Jones (approx. 13.1 miles away); Dancyville United Methodist Church (approx. 13.1 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2018, by Curtis Wise of Jackson, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 908 times since then and 68 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on August 22, 2018, by Curtis Wise of Jackson, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.