Throughout American history, numerous Black communities have thrived, only to face erasure through theft, destruction, or neglect. Little Egypt, North Carolina, stands as one such poignant example. This once peaceful Black farming and fishing village was submerged in the mid-20th century when state officials decided to create a water reservoir.
Lake Lanier, similar to the reservoir that submerged Little Egypt, NC, represents a community lost to progress.
When the lake was completed, the homes and churches of Little Egypt were submerged, leaving behind a legacy of displacement and loss.
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The Story of Little Egypt
An elderly former resident, Mary Lattimore, shared her story before her passing: “We had everything we needed in Little Egypt. My family had land, a good well, chickens, cows. Then they told us we had to leave. We had no choice.”
Little Egypt is one of several Black towns that were forcibly emptied and submerged under water, often under the guise of "progress" or public works projects. These were not accidents, but rather the result of violent racial expulsions, unfair eminent domain seizures, or deliberate neglect.
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Other Erased Communities
Other communities that shared a similar fate include:
- Oscarville, Georgia: Flooded to create Lake Lanier after white mobs terrorized the town in 1912.
- Ferguson, South Carolina: Submerged to create Lake Marion after residents were forced to sell their land at low prices.
- Vanport, Oregon: A wartime housing community destroyed by the Columbia River flood in 1948 due to ignored warnings and inadequate evacuation.
- Kowaliga, Alabama: Flooded to create Lake Martin after residents received little to no compensation for their land.
Each of these towns represents a stolen legacy, a place where Black families built lives only to be erased by racism, greed, and government policies.
Remnants of communities similar to Little Egypt, NC, submerged and largely forgotten.
Lee County and the Surrounding Area
The growing predominance of the railroad had much to do with the formation of Lee County in the early 1900s. In 1907, The North Carolina General Assembly selected pieces of the surrounding Moore and Chatham Counties to create Lee County. Lee County was named in honor of the iconic Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The county’s seat, Sanford, is named after the famous railroad engineer Colonel Charles Ogburn Sanford.
The small county of Lee has always held a relevance to the economy and events of North Carolina’s history. The Wilcox Iron Works Company contributed much to the state’s war achievements during the American Revolution. In 1855, North Carolina’s first coalmine company was established in the Egypt (now Cumnock) community.
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Attractions in Lee County
The Sanford Pottery Festival is one of Lee County’s biggest tourist attractions. This event showcases the rich artistic heritage of the region, drawing visitors from far and wide.
Remembering Little Egypt
While these lakes and parks now serve as recreation sites for tourists and the wealthy, the memories and injustices remain. But history does not have to remain buried.
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