Lincoln Avenue commercial strip
The historic business blocks, subject of ongoing restoration and interpretation.
Lake Wales · Historic Black business and residential district
Lincoln Avenue
The historic heart of Black Lake Wales.
Lincoln Avenue was the commercial and social center of Black Lake Wales through segregation and after — grocers, barbers, a theater, funeral homes, and churches that still anchor the neighborhood.
Today it is a focus of both preservation work and CRA reinvestment, with community organizations documenting the district's history while pushing for housing and small-business support.
BoundariesCentered on Lincoln Avenue northwest of downtown, extending through the surrounding residential blocks toward Hunt Brothers and the Northwest neighborhood.
What it's like
Character
- Historic church congregations that predate most downtown buildings
- Frame vernacular housing stock, much of it early 20th century
- Active neighborhood associations and heritage programming
- CRA housing and small-business incentive focus area
On the ground
Landmarks
Historic churches
Several founding congregations still holding weekly services on and around the avenue.
Community heritage markers
Interpretive signage documenting the district's businesses and figures.
Five minutes from downtown by car, walkable from the Park Avenue blocks. Street parking throughout.
Verified 2026-07-29
Events calendar
What’s coming up in Lincoln Avenue.
Nothing scheduled in Lincoln Avenue at the moment. Browse the full regional calendar →