History Lincoln Heights was founded in the 1920s by property developers as a suburban enclave for black homeowners working in nearby industries.Smith, Carolyn F., p. 8. It was originally an unincorporated area which had no fire, police, streetlights, or paved roads. At the time, only some houses had electricity. Many black families bought houses in the community because zoning laws and redlining prevented them from purchasing property in other communities.Semuels, Alana. "The Destruction of a Black Suburb" (Archive). The Atlantic. July 13, 2015. Retrieved on July 15, 2015.
History Lincoln Heights was founded in the 1920s by property developers as a suburban enclave for black homeow?ners working in nearby industries.Smith, Carolyn F., p. 8. It was originally an unincorporated area which had no fire, police, streetlights, or paved roads. At the time, only some houses had electricity. Many black families bought houses in the community because zoning laws and redlining prevented them from purchasing property in other communities.Semuels, Alana. "The Destruction of a Black Suburb" (Archive). The Atlantic. July 13, 20!15. Retrieved on July 15, 2015.