After the American Civil War, previously free blacks joined freed slaves and their descendants and created a thriving African-America business community, and became known as the "Black Wall Street of America." Leaders included such influential people as John Mitchell, Jr., editor of the Richmond Planet, an African American newspaper, and Maggie L. Walker.
Ms. Walker was the first woman to charter and serve as president of an American bank. Jackson Ward is a historically African-American district in Richmond, Virginia with a long tradition of African-American businesses.
It is located less than a mile from the Virginia State Capitol, sitting to the west of Court End and north of Broad Street.
It was listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 1978.