Details for Cunningham Cemetery

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5000023846

Data

Marker Number 23846
Atlas Number 5000023846
Marker Title Cunningham Cemetery
Index Entry
Address 4145 Unger Rd
City Smithville
County Bastrop
UTM Zone
UTM Easting
UTM Northing
Subject Codes cemetery; African American topics
Marker Year 2023
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location 4145 Unger Rd
Private Property No
Marker Condition
Marker Size 18" x 28"
Marker Text This site was first utilized as a burial ground after the 1831 arrival of the John C. and Susan (Prentice) Cunningham family and their enslaved persons. After Emancipation, African American residents purchased land previously belonging to Cunningham and two other settlers to form a freedom colony known as Center Union. The residents built a thriving and tight-knit community. The existing cemetery became the primary burial ground for Center Union. Leaders in the church, business, healthcare and education sectors are interred here. Although the community declined in the 1920s due to drought and new work opportunities in cities, the cemetery is active for descendants and their families. HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY – 2022