Jackson Square
The heart of the African American community in Natchitoches, this area known as Jackson Square lies within a large, loosely defined area away from the river. The boundaries, as generally agreed upon by community members, are Texas Street on the north, University Boulevard (old College Avenue) on the south, the railroad tracks to the east, and Highway 1 on the west, making more of a large rectangle than a true square. Many African American neighborhoods, churches, homes, and Black-owned businesses developed within and around this large area.
On Jackson Square, they had cafés, you know, Black cafés you could go in.
Civil Rights activities were centered here, as well, and leaders’ homes and businesses were often targeted by segregationists.
[There were] cross burnings in Natchitoches, right there on Jackson Square out there where Dr. Johnson is out there. They burnt crosses here.
Sheet 1, 1930 Sanborn map, Natchitoches, Louisiana, http://sanborn.umi.com/la/3374/dateid-000007.htm?CCSI=3035n