Discovering the Dark Branch Community
A POST-EMANCIPATION LEGACY IN THE LOWER CAPE FEAR
Nestled between the rice plantations of Orton, Lilliput, and Kendal, the Dark Branch community represents one of the last standing freedom settlements in the region, with its land ownership remaining largely intact among descendants of formerly enslaved Black Americans. Located in Brunswick County, just outside Wilmington, the Dark Branch community traces its roots to the Reconstruction Era.
Founded in 1873 through the land purchases of three formerly enslaved men—Robert “Hooper” Clark, Tom Clark, and Frank Brown Jr.—this community blossomed from fields once cultivated under the duress of enslavement into a thriving hub of Black farming, entrepreneurship, and civil rights activism.
The significance of Dark Branch stretches beyond its local history. The community lies within the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, linking its past to the broader story of African American resilience from the coasts of West Africa to the Carolina Lowcountry. Here, freed families like the Clarks and Browns transformed plantation land into a place of independence and self-determination.
The Dark Branch community is a member of the National Park Service’s Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.
PRESERVATION EFFORTS
The Dark Branch Descendants Association (DBDA) leads efforts to protect key community landmarks, including the Dark Branch Cemetery. These historic structures and resources are under threat from neglect, climate change, and development, and require immediate stabilization to preserve their legacy. To contact DBDA or to donate to their cause, visit darkbranchdescendants.org/contact-us.
The work of the Dark Branch Descendants Association goes beyond preservation—it aims to recenter the narratives of African American communities along the Lower Cape Fear River. Through public programs, historical research, and community engagement, DBDA is shining a light on the forgotten stories of the Dark Branch ancestors, from their harrowing journeys through the Middle Passage to their fight for civil rights during the Jim Crow era.
One of DBDA’s key initiatives is documenting the community’s oral histories, collecting stories from local elders. In addition, DBDA is pursuing a nomination for the National Register of Historic Places, which would secure further recognition and resources for the community’s preservation.