Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Oak Park, Sacramento, California (December 2014)

Streets named after Martin Luther King Jr. can be found in many cities of the United States and in nearly every major metropolis. There are also a number of other countries that have honored Martin Luther King Jr., including Italy and Israel. The first street in the United States named in his honor was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chicago in 1968.[1] The number of streets named after King is increasing every year, and about 70% of these streets are in states which were members of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. King's home state of Georgia had the most, with 75 streets as of 2001;[2] this had increased to 105 as of 2006.[3]

As of 2003, there were over 600 American cities that had named a street after King.[2] By 2004, this number had grown to 650, according to NPR.[4] In 2006, Derek Alderman, a cultural geographer at East Carolina University, reported the number had increased to 730, with only 10 states in the country without a street named after King (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont).[3] In 2014 he estimated that there were over 900 streets named after King in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.[5] In 2019, National Geographic published an interactive mapping of more than 1,000 streets around the world named after King.[6]

Business owners in the affected parts of cities have objected, claiming that naming a street after Martin Luther King is bad for business.[7]

The following is a list of streets named after King in the United States.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

The "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial highway" includes various portions:[32]

Also:

Kentucky

Louisiana

Intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and S. Jeff Davis Parkway in New Orleans

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

As of April 2021 Kansas City, Missouri is no longer the largest U.S. city without a street named in honor of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

After a three-year battle, the city’s parks board unanimously agreed to give Blue Parkway the MLK name Tuesday.

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway, Staten Island, New York

North Carolina

Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Chapel Hill

Ohio

One of the overpasses over Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Cleveland

Oklahoma

Oregon

Temporary dual-name signage in place in Portland in 1989, shortly after the renaming of Union Avenue for Martin Luther King Jr.

Pennsylvania

Plaque at Penn Station in Pittsburgh, dedicating the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Washington, D.C.

Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Street sign designating 2nd Street as "honorary" Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Wyoming

Outside of the United States

Lists

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ Kogan, Rick (April 23, 2018). "Politicians with short memories helped Chicago become the first city with a Martin Luther King Jr. Drive". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Alderman, Derek H. "Martin Luther King Jr. Streets in Georgia". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "King's Way: Snapshots of life along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive". Winston-Salem Journal. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  4. ^ "Along Martin Luther King". NPR.org. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
  5. ^ Misra, Tanvi (November 23, 2015). "The Remaking of Martin Luther King Streets". Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Thomas, Bywendi C. (April 4, 2019). "Martin Luther King Jr. Streets Photographed Across Globe". National Geographic. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Rivas, Mekita (September 12, 2023) [Originally published February 12, 2021]. "Across the U.S., Streets Named After Martin Luther King Jr. Remain a Battleground for Equality". Dwell. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  8. ^ Edge, Josh (August 5, 2010). "Anchorage Road Dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Jackson, Darrell. "City renames street in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr". The Glendale Star. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  10. ^ Gargaro, Allison (January 15, 2015). "Stretch of Broadway Road in Phoenix now known as MLK Blvd". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Leighton, David (May 7, 2020) [Originally published April 2, 2017]. "Street Smarts: MLK Jr. raised his voice to the rafters in Tucson". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "Kingdom Day Parade". kingdomdayparade.org. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "Resolution; City Council; 52001; ; Rename Grove Street in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr". City of Berkeley Records Online. City of Berkeley. November 8, 1983. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  14. ^ "Minutes of Regular Meeting of the City Council". City of Riverside. November 2, 1993. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  15. ^ MacMillan, Thomas (June 18, 2011). "North Frontage Is 'MLK Boulevard'". New Haven Independent. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  16. ^ Sanders, Alexandra (June 19, 2011). "Sign designates new MLK Blvd". New Haven Register. New Haven. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Dover dedicates new Martin Luther Jr. King Boulevard at Legislative Mall". Dover Post. Dover. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Roth, Nick (March 3, 2020). "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way unveiled in Lewes". Cape Gazette. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  19. ^ "Walkabout Interstate 95 Wilmington". AARoads.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "Street Name Change Resolution List" (PDF). Seminole County, Florida. February 3, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  21. ^ Wilson, Jon (August 31, 2005) [Originally published February 21, 2003]. "(Ninth) to leave King Street". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "30.438029,-84.285634 - Google Maps". Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  23. ^ "Renaming Honors King". Tampa Times. April 11, 1968. p. 1.
  24. ^ Canning, Michael (September 2, 2005) [Originally published March 9, 2002]. "Untiring activist; his whirl of cuisine". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  25. ^ Tan, Shannon; Scott, Megan (January 19, 2004). "Are the streets fit for King?". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  26. ^ Griner, Ken (February 11, 2020). "Looking back at West Broad Street before becoming MLK Blvd". Savannah: WTOC-TV. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  27. ^ Guan, Nancy (January 16, 2022) [Originally published January 15, 2022]. "Georgia's oldest city, Savannah, introduces its first Martin Luther King Jr. monument". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  28. ^ "Bill Status of HR1214". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  29. ^ "City of East Chicago Zoning Map" (PDF). City of East Chicago. March 10, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  30. ^ Morehead, Andrea. "Driving the Dream: Part One". Indianapolis: WTHR. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  31. ^ Bagley, Landa (January 16, 2017). "Mayor Names New MLK Jr. Boulevard in South Bend". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "2023 Statute – Chapter 68. - Roads And Bridges – Article 10. - Naming And Marking Of Highways And Bridges". Kansas Legislature. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  33. ^ "Road Closure: LA 397 (E. Ward Line Road) – Lake Charles - Calcasieu Parish". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2024. Motorist will be detoured via US 90 (Fruge St), LA 14 (S. Martin Luther King Hwy) and LA 3020 (Opelousas St).
  34. ^ Cormier, Eric (October 8, 2012). "Business booming on Martin Luther King Highway". American Press. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  35. ^ "Grand Rapids Feb. 22 ceremony to dedicate Cesar E. Chavez and Martin Luther King Jr. streets". mlive. February 21, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  36. ^ a b Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). 1 in:3.5 mi/1 cm:2 km. Michigan Department of Transportation. 2010. Lansing inset.
  37. ^ Natambu, Kofi (2002). The Life and Work of Malcolm X. Indianapolis: Alpha Books. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-02-864218-5.
  38. ^ "St. Paul renames street for MLK". Post Bulletin.
  39. ^ Eligon, John (November 5, 2019). "Kansas City Voters Remove Martin Luther King's Name From Boulevard". Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  40. ^ Sanchez, Mary (May 21, 2018). "Slapping Martin Luther King Jr.'s name on the new KCI terminal is offensive". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  41. ^ "Caravan celebrates naming of Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Highway in Reno". KRNV-DT. August 20, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  42. ^ O'Neil, Ty (August 2, 2020). "Caravan of cars celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Highway (photos)". This Is Reno. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  43. ^ "I-676 (South to North)" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. April 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  44. ^ Google (June 7, 2013). "overview of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Camden, NJ" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  45. ^ "Dr. Martin Luther King's Speeches In Jersey City". City of Jersey City. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  46. ^ "Martin Luther King Drive Redevelopment Plan" (PDF). Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  47. ^ "Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade". Foursquare City Guide. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  48. ^ "Google Maps". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  49. ^ "Historic Airport Road Designation Removed from Chapel Hill's Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard". Chapelboro.com. January 25, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  50. ^ Graff, Laura (December 12, 2012) [Originally published January 16, 2012]. "Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade celebrates social justice". Winston-Salem Journal. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  51. ^ "MLK: An address for dreams". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 15, 2001. p. A8.
  52. ^ "Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Road Improvement Project" (PDF) (Press release). City of Cleveland. February 22, 2018. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 18, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  53. ^ Sande, Theodore Anton. "Monuments". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University Department of History. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  54. ^ "Interstate 244 Oklahoma". interstate-guide.com. Retrieved September 19, 2020. It was named the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway east from Downtown by the Oklahoma Highway Commission in 1984
  55. ^ "Tulsa's North Cincinnati Avenue Renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard". KOTV-DT. Griffin Media. September 18, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  56. ^ Mayer, James (April 21, 1989). "City Council votes to rename Union". The Oregonian. p. D1.
  57. ^ Mayer, James (December 10, 1989). "Martin Luther King name change from Union catches on slowly". The Oregonian. p. E7.
  58. ^ Alu, Mary Ellen (August 2, 1992). "Allentown's Lawrence Street Renamed to Honor ML King Jr". The Morning Call. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  59. ^ "Martin Luther King, Jr., Expressway – Designation – Act of Nov. 21, 1988, P.L. 1080, No. 123" (PDF). Pennsylvania General Assembly. November 21, 1988. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  60. ^ "Coatesville is proud to bring Harmony to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard" (Press release). City of Coatesville. December 5, 2018. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  61. ^ "East Busway". portauthority.org. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  62. ^ Chattanooga Department of Transportation (February 6, 2018). "E. Martin Luther King Blvd. Improvements". City of Chattanooga. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  63. ^ Chattanooga Department of Transportation (October 7, 2016). E. Martin Luther King Blvd. and Bailey Ave. Safety and Roadway Improvements Project (PDF). City of Chattanooga (Report). Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  64. ^ Garrison, Joey; Neysa Alund, Natalie (April 3, 2018). "Nashville renames part of Charlotte Avenue to honor Martin Luther King Jr". The Tennessean. Nashville, TN. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  65. ^ Kellar, Brad (January 12, 2016). "Multiple events planned to honor Dr. King". Herald-Banner. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  66. ^ "Super Neighborhood 72 - South Park". City of Houston Texas. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  67. ^ Westbrook, Ray (January 17, 1999). "A promising road city unites to change street name". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  68. ^ "Martin Luther King Street (24th st) - Ogden, Utah". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  69. ^ Sooter, Tad (February 1, 2013). "Friday preview: Bainbridge edition". Puget Sound Blogs. Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  70. ^ de Leon, Ferdinand M. (January 18, 1998). "Streets Amd Dreams -- Martin Luther King Jr. Roadways Across America -- Seattle -- Martin Luther King Jr. Way Is Growing Into Its Name". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  71. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
Further reading