The Community of Moorehead once was, now remembered

The Moorehead Community Marker Inscription.  In the early 1880’s one of Lakeland’s first settlements developed on these 35 acres. Railroad laborers working on the Henry B. Plant railroad lines and other African-Americans moved here to begin construction in 1882 on a railroad line from Tampa eastward through Lakeland to Bartow junction. In 1884, Lakeland’s first African-American Church, St. John’s Baptist, was founded and the city’s first Black school was established, soon thereafter. Rev. H.R. Morehead (?-1916) became pastor of the St. John’s Church in 1906.

He was an esteemed champion for the rights of his people and it is believed that the Moorehead Community was named in his honor. This neighborhood experienced rapid growth of homes, churches, and businesses that included Lakeland’s first African-American physician, Dr. David Simpson (1870 – 1955). Thousands of African-Americans lived in Moorehead at one time or another until 1971 when the City of Lakeland acquired this land in order to build The Lakeland Center.

Erected by the City of Lakeland.

Location. 28° 2.433′ N, 81° 57.773′ W. Marker is in Lakeland, Florida, in Polk County. Marker can be reached from West Lime Street, 0.2 miles east of Lake Beulah Drive. The marker is located in the drop-off area at the front entrance to the RP Funding Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 701 West Lime Street, Lakeland FL 33815, United States of America. Touch for directions.