Promise Land Historical Marker

Promise Land, Tennessee: 

Promise Land is a Charlotte Community located about 3 miles north of the Court Square and 5 miles south of Cumberland Furnace.  It was established and primarily settled by African-Americans shortly after the emancipation from slavery.  Many of the earlier residents had been slaves working at the furnace.  Some continued to work there as paid workers after the Civil War. 

During the Reconstruction Period, land was set aside to allow former slaves to establish themselves as free people.  The community encompassed about 100 acres.  Land ownership was important to these newly freed people.  Families worked together to earn money from jobs at the furnace, farming, domestic and other labor in order to purchase a few acres. 

The community thrived from about 1870 to 1920.  The Great Migration marked a turning point for the residents of Promise Land.  After World War I, many young men and women began to move north searching for better working conditions and opportunities.  Whole families were uprooted and moved to northern cities.  In 1957, the Promise Land School closed due to lack of students signaling the demise of the community.  By 1980, only four of the original settlers resided there.

Despite the migration and decline, the community has remained vital to former residents, their descendants.  Over the years former residents have contributed to the local and national academic, professional, business, vocational and military communities.  Each year now, the Promise Land Community Club sponsors a two day event which draws people from all over the U.S. and abroad.

The Promise Land School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.  For more information about Promise Land go to www.promiseland.tn.com