The Story Of Kellumtown

Kellumtown was born out of displacement, determination, and the strength of a community that refused to be separated. In 1941, as plans for Camp Lejeune moved forward, Black families living on land within the proposed Marine base boundaries were ordered to leave their homes. They were given little time to relocate, and many faced the difficult reality of losing the homes they could not move. Rather than scatter, these families chose to stay together. Led by William Chadwick, they found new land, purchased from Mr. Kellum, and began building a new community from what was once a swampy and rugged area known as Rattlesnake Island. Through hard work, cooperation, faith, and determination, they transformed that land into what became known as Kellumtown. By 1948, the community was home to 19 families and more than 100 people, with a church, school, farms, homes, and a system of community self-government. Their story was documented in The News and Observer of Raleigh on May 2, 1948, in an article titled “Onslow's ‘Displaced Persons’ Carve New Town Out of Swampy Wilder.” Today, Kellumtown stands as a lasting reminder of the families who refused to let displacement erase their community, and of the generations who continue to carry their history forward.