ENSLEY RISING
ENSLEY RISING
restoring ENSLEY, AL to its commercial and cultural glory
OUR STRATEGY
OUR STRATEGY
“We don’t just build buildings, we
help buildings build communities”
PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL JOB GROWTH
Mayor Woodfin seeks to coordinate a comprehensive economic and community development strategy for Ensley, marshalling public and private resources and anchored by the vision and guidance of local merchants and residents.
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GET IN TOUCH
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Photo Credit: Isidore Newman & Son Photographs, 1908, Birmingham Public Library
In the early 20th century, Ensley, Alabama was home to a world-class steel production facility, making the area a booming industrial destination for working-class families in West Birmingham. Industry gave way to arts and culture, and from the 1910's to 1940's, Ensley became a mecca of black business, jazz and blues.
The intersection of Ensley Avenue and 19th Street was affectionately known by locals as Tuxedo Junction, and was the heart and soul of social life for black residents from the 1920's to the 1940's. Conveniently located at the terminus of two major streetcar lines, the area quickly grew from a modest commercial district to a booming center for music and late-night socializing for nearby residents and after-work-hours commuters. It wasn't long before the area became a haven and driver of night-life tourism from miles around. Birmingham-native Jazz musician, Erskine Hawkins, forever immortalized the area with his popular 1939 hit, "Tuxedo Junction". Other noteworthy musicians were connected to the area throughout the years, with many beginning their early careers playing the local bars and blues joints in the area.
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restoring ENSLEY, AL to its commercial and cultural glory
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