Early history In 1908, United States Army veteran
Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth and Professor William Payne, Rev. William Peck and John W. Palmer, and Harry A. Mitchell sought to build a town where African Americans could own property, learn, and live the
American Dream. They chose an Tulare County site for a new town near the present location of Earlimart, California, and about north of
Bakersfield. The site was chosen for fertile soil, adequate water, and its location along a railroad corridor. Black men and women — craftsmen, artisans, businessmen, farmers, ranchers, retired military — moved their families to the newly purchased land. In 1914, the
California Eagle newspaper stated that Allensworth deeded land was worth more than $112,000. The affairs of the town were administered by a council form of government known as the Allensworth Progressive Association, which directed the community through its formative and critical early years. Men and women held responsible positions in the community. Allensworth's economy depended on agriculture; farmers cultivated alfalfa, wheat, sugar beets, and cotton; and raised dairy cattle, chickens, turkeys, and Belgian hares. The town had several businesses and public buildings: bakery, drugstore, livery stable, barbershop, church, school, library, and a machine shop. Sources such as the
Oakland Sunshine, a leading black
Oakland, California newspaper, in 1913 claimed that Allensworth generated nearly $5,000 monthly in its business ventures. But water problems began developing in 1912 and by 1914 had become serious. The declining water tables throughout the area and increasing problems with
alkali salts helped to doom the community. As the original settlers moved away, the land values declined, some of the houses were left empty, and others were rented or sold. By the 1950s Allensworth was an impoverished area without drinkable water supplies; its only water wells were
contaminated with arsenic, and state health officials declared them unusable. When the state acquired the land for park purposes, state officials said land owners were paid "market value" but because these values were so low, the state also provided financial assistance to relocate the former owners. According to State Park Ranger Greg Kauffman, "only two or three families were unhappy with the move". And, he said, "the project itself has received strong support".
Colonel Allensworth's death Colonel Allensworth died on September 14, 1914 at Monrovia Hospital after being hit by a
tandem motorcycle driven by D.S. White (with William E. Wray listed as passenger). Allensworth had just stepped off of a train and was en route to speak at a church. The
California Eagle newspaper wrote that Allensworth was walking on Myrtle Avenue, "a sixty-foot boulevard," when "he was overtaken and struck down by a motorcycle ridden by two young caucasians. The bruised and bleeding form was rushed to the hospital at Monrovia where death came after two days of unconsciousness." Allensworth was listed as having broken "both legs, one arm, collar bone and skull" in the ordeal. White and Wray claimed they were only going about 12 miles per hour, but many people on at the scene "believed the motorcycle must have been going at high speed, and that Colonel Allensworth had little opportunity to save himself." which led Assistant District Attorney Richardson to advise local law enforcement to not arrest the men. In 1919
Delilah L. Beasley wrote in her book
The Negro Trail-Blazers of California: "The death of Colonel Allensworth was most tragic, because after passing through three wars, he was finally killed by a careless motorcyclist on the streets of
Monrovia, California, a few miles out from
Los Angeles, the accident occurring on a Sunday morning in September, 1914. The aged Colonel was on his way to preach in a small church of the village and had just stepped from a Pacific Electric street car when these men knocked him down and ran over him, killing him through their careless driving, his death, occurring within twenty-four hours afterwards without his regaining consciousness, it was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky to the people of the State. He had spent the two years previous in dictating and assisting Professor Charles Alexander to write his autobiography." In 1972 "Allensworth Historic District" was added to the
National Register of Historic Places. Finally, in 1974 then-Governor
Ronald Reagan authorized the department to establish the park. Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park was established on in 1976. Ed Pope returned to the area in his retirement "to become a preservation activist on the scene." The 100th anniversary of Allensworth was celebrated in October 2008. Events are held throughout the year to commemorate the park's history. The preserved townsite features nine restored buildings, including a schoolhouse, a hotel, a general store, and library and several homes. The park has a visitor center, and tours are available by making arrangements with the park in advance. The visitor center features a video presentation, "The Spirit of Allensworth." Fifteen campsites, open all year, accommodate RVs or tents. Each site includes a picnic table and a camp stove; flush toilets are nearby. Facilities accessible to people with disabilities are available. Turf, trees, and shade ramadas are other features. A nearby picnic area is shaded by 75 large trees, planted by the California Conservation Corps. The park is southwest of
Earlimart on County Road J22, just west of the Central Valley Highway
[SR-43]. File:2009-0725-CA-Allensworth-House.jpg|Allensworth House File:2009-0725-CA-Allensworth-1stBap.jpg|First Baptist Church File:2009-0725-CA-Allensworth-Elementary.jpg|Allensworth Elementary School File:2009-0725-CA-Allensworth-Hotel.jpg|Allensworth Hotel File:Singleton op 800x483.jpg|Singleton's General Store & Post Office File:2009-0725-CA-Allensworth-Dodson.jpg|Dodson House and Restaurant; Blacksmith Area (right) == Terrain and environment ==