Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood
The Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood is a small, historic, and culturally and economically diverse neighborhood located at the north end of downtown Tucson. The name Dunbar/Spring (not “springs”) is derived from one prominent Tucson citizen, John Spring, who was one of Tucson’s first teachers, and an African-American poet, Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Dunbar/Spring has had a strong cultural identity as the first African-American neighborhood in Tucson.
The neighborhood is home to several churches as well as social service agencies, including the Salvation Army Hospitality House and Caridad Community Kitchen run by the Community Food Bank. Following the decline of downtown by the turn of last century, the neighborhood suffered from crime, abandoned properties, disinvestment, and encroaching commercial development that was harming the residential fabric of the neighborhood. Thanks to the commitment and energy of an increasing number of newcomers, combined with the historical wisdom and values of our long-term residents, Dunbar/Spring has continued to grow and change and is currently a vibrant community.
