Biddleville (Charlotte neighborhood)

Biddleville
Neighborhood
Coordinates: 35.241752°N 80.858757°W / 35.241752; -80.858757
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Mecklenburg County
City	Charlotte
Council District	2
Founded	1871[1]
Annexed	1907[2]
Government
• City Council	Malcolm Graham[3]
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip Code	28208, 28216
Area codes	704, 980

Biddleville is the oldest surviving predominantly African-American neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is located one mile west of Uptown and Interstate 77 along Beatties Ford Road. Biddleville is home to Johnson C. Smith University, a historically black college.

History

The Johnson C. Smith University was originally called the Henry J. Biddle Memorial Institute, that was formed shortly after the Civil War to educate aspiring black preachers and teachers. In 1876 it was renamed Biddle University.[1][5] Biddleville arose as a supporting community of the Institute and was distinctly separate from Charlotte until it was annexed by the city in 1907.[2]

In 1908, the Biddle University Quintet was formed to tour and raise funds in emulation of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. In 1920 they recorded four spiritual sides for Pathé Records. In 1938 they replaced the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet as regular performers on the Charlotte WBT radio station. From 1926 to 1929 the Biddleville Quintette recorded extensively for Paramount Records. It is not known whether the two groups are the same, or even connected.[6]

Subdivisions

Biddleville has three subdivisions: Roslyn Heights, Smallwood, and Western Heights.[7]

References

1. "Biddleville - Historic Charlotte Neighborhoods". University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
2. Whipple, Juan D. "Jay" (2018). Black Charlotte From A Tour Guide's Perspective 2018 Book I Part I: The Good, The Bad, The Surprising!. CBP Publishing Company. p. 124.
3. "Meet the Council". City of Charlotte. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
4. "Neighborhood Profile Area (in acres)". City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and UNCC. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
5. Biddleville-Five Points Neighborhood Guide Archived September 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
6. Note on p 29 of "Field Manual" accompanying The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records 1917-1932, Volume 1. 2013. Third Man Records.
7. "JCSU - Neighborhood History". History South. Retrieved September 23, 2021.

External links

• Media related to Biddleville (Charlotte, North Carolina) at Wikimedia Commons