Ch. 9 The Inland South

Farming was once a vital resource to the economy of the Inland South. Sadly, it dropped substantially within the 20th century. Like California's Central Valley, the Inland South focused on commercial production for export.

The Inland South struggled with slavery. Although California was admitted into the Union as a free state, it still toiled with its bouts of slavery.  Plus, slavery was in effect under Mexican Law and popular with the Spaniards that previously owned the land. 

Many slaves came to areas of the Northern Central Valley with their Southern slaveholders during the Gold Rush. They would often earn enough to take back home and buy out their family from slavery. 

Allensworth, California in Tulare County is a town founded in 1908, with the idea that African Americans could own property, learn, thrive, and live the American Dream. The town was named by Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth who was born into slavery and later became a chaplain of the United States Army. 

Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth

Allensworth, Ca

The Inland South contains very diverse states such as Texas. Only California rivals Texas for it's diversity of people, places, and natural environments.