Black Ripley
The Histories of African Americans in Ripley, TN and the Surrounding Areas

A Brief History

Lauderdale County was created in 1835 from Haywood, Dyer and Tipton Counties.

It was named in honor of James Lauderdale, an Indian War and War of 1812 officer who fell leading troops against the British in 1814, prior to the Battle of New Orleans.

Located in West Tennessee, one of Tennessee's Three Grand Divisions,
Ripley is the county seat.

Our western border is the Mississippi River. Crockett County is one of our neighboring counties, and across the River is Mississippi County, Arkansas.