The Population of African Americans in the Downtown Hartford and Clay Arsenal Areas
The Talcott Street Church Commemoration project aims to honor and represent the Black population within Hartford’s Downtown and Clay Arsenal communities. In the Downtown area, which has a total population of 2,745, 14.03% are Black or African American alone (385). Similarly, in the Clay Arsenal neighborhood, which has a total population of 938, 35.18% are Black or African American alone (330).
What Makes This Important
Highlighting this demographic underscores the significance of commemorating the history of these communities and the benefits it could bring to a substantial portion of Hartford’s population. Addressing this issue would also bring much-needed visibility to the ethnically diverse history of Hartford—an important aspect that is often overlooked in public commemorations. Given the diversity of this community, it would be better served by recognizing and celebrating all facets of its rich and multifaceted history. Collecting this data is vitally important as we seek to properly commemorate the history of Talcott Street Church, as it gives us insight into the specific demographic of Black or African American people that make up these communities in the modern day. These communities are central to how we can conceive of the importance of Talcott Street Church today, as the Downtown area is where the original site of the church existed, and was home to the leaders and members of the church in the 19th century. Today, the Clay Arsenal area is home to the modern-day continuation of the church, Faith Congregational Church. These two areas exist in tandem with one another and inform how we understand the history of the church and the present-day contribution of the church.