(above): Photo by Felix Pinnard is thought to be Rev. Lewis Colson and his wife Irene. Courtesy Sarasota County Historical Resources.
African Americans in Sarasota called the area’s first black community “over-town.” Their neighborhood was blocks from downtown near work.
Quick Facts
- 20 acre district.
- Five city blocks north of downtown at the intersection of Central Avenue and Sixth Street, bordered by 10th Street to the north, Orange Avenue to the east, Fruitville Avenue to the south and Coconut Avenue to the west.
- The community was known as “Overtown.”
- A section within Overtown was known as “Black Bottom.” Some residents said the name describes the rich color of the area’s soil; but others believe it describes the segregated neighborhood.
(above): Nighttime in the Rosemary District. It’s now known by some as the “design district.” (Overtown was renamed in 1994). Vickie Oldham Collection.