Kincheonville Plaque

Here stands the Kincheonville Plaque a testament to resilience. Imagine a time shortly after the Civil War. Thomas Kincheon a former slave from Mississippi sought a new beginning. He established Kincheonville a small farming community near here. It wasn’t just any community. Kincheonville was unique. Anglos and Hispanics lived alongside African Americans. This was unusual for the time. The Kincheons’ farm provided milk and butter to Tillotson College an all-black college in Austin. Life centered around Zion Rest Baptist Church which served as both a place of worship and a school. Kincheonville thrived for years. Then in 1928 Austin changed its master plan. It aimed to displace African Americans. Public utilities were only available in a designated “Negro District”. The Great Depression added to the hardship. Many families including the Kincheons eventually left Kincheonville. In 1952 the land was sold for suburban development. Yet the Kincheon legacy lives on. Blumie Elijah James Andrew and Minnie Streets still bear their names. Zion Rest Baptist Church still stands serving the community from a sanctuary built in 1965. This plaque honors a community’s strength and perseverance. It is a reminder of a unique and important chapter in Austin’s history. Remember the names. Remember the story. Remember Kincheonville.