Discussion continues regarding an online push to change the name of controversial Division Street in Atchison.

Supporters for the initiative say the street name is rooted in racism and shows an ugly side of Atchison’s past.

But, Executive Director for Atchison County Historical Society Chris Taylor says history doesn’t support that claim.

“It goes back to 1857, that the original plat for the city of Atchison was done and then the north Atchison addition was done in 1857—the dividing line between that original plat of Atchison and the north addition was called Division Street,” Taylor said.

“The reality, in the time it was established—it was just a dividing line between two plats, two layouts so they could sell town lots.”

Taylor explains it wasn’t uncommon in the 1800’s for cities to name the streets dividing plots of land as the town expanded ‘Division.’ He said sometimes cities would rename those streets later on—but for whatever reason—Atchison never did.

As Atchison expanded, Taylor said it faced a shortage of workers. African-Americans were encouraged to moved into the city as they were previously living outside of city limits. But they didn’t’ move north.

“Before 1920, most of the African-Americans lived to the south of Atchison,” Taylor said.

So where does the widely-accepted perception that Division Street once represented racial divides come from?

“The Lincoln School was built in 1921 and then the gymnasium was added in 1937, it began to attract more African-Americans to move in that direction when they were looking for a new home,” Taylor said. “It wasn’t until the 1930’s that African-Americans began to move into that area in any significant numbers.”

He added the area north of Division began to become the hub of community for African-Americans and they began to move toward that school.

Not everyone moved, some did stay to the south of Atchison.

“But, overtime, if you were relocating—you knew your kids were going to that school—it’s easier to be close to the school rather than walk all the way across town.”

Taylor says past attempts to change the street name fell short for lack of support by residents.