Former Jacksonville Landfill Site Includes School
A shuttered elementary school sits on land used for toxic ash dumping in the mid-20th century.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Primary Education
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Between the late 1940s and mid-1950s, the city of Jacksonville operated a landfill for toxic incinerator ash on a 250-acre site. A boarded-up elementary school named after Mary McLeod Bethune now sits on the former landfill property.
Why it matters
The presence of a school on the former site of Brown's Dump highlights the long-term impact of mid-century land-use decisions and redlining practices. These historical zoning choices continue to influence current discussions regarding land safety and community health.
The city operated the landfill at this 250-acre site to dispose of toxic ash from municipal incinerators. The property now serves as the location for the Mary McLeod Bethune elementary school.
The players
Mary McLeod Bethune
An American educator and civil rights leader who served as an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
City of Jacksonville
The municipal government responsible for the administration of zoning and landfill operations during the mid-20th century.
The details
Jacksonville utilized the site, known as Brown's Dump, as a landfill for toxic ash generated by municipal incinerators for nearly a decade. The selection of this location for public infrastructure followed era-specific redlining practices that designated how land in the city could be used.
Timeline
The city began operating the landfill site in the late 1940s.
Landfill operations at the site ceased in the mid-1950s.
Culture Shift
The development of schools on former dump sites reflects a broader historical pattern seen at the Love Canal toxic waste disposal site. This marks a shift in how municipalities re-evaluate the safety of land once designated through exclusionary zoning practices.
The proximity of a shuttered school to a former toxic ash site remains a matter of concern for the local community regarding site safety. Residents in the area continue to evaluate how historical zoning decisions impact the long-term viability of local land use.
The takeaway
Historical land-use decisions like those at Brown's Dump illustrate the lasting physical footprint of past municipal waste disposal policies. Local residents and officials must balance the legacy of these sites with modern requirements for community safety and infrastructure planning.
Further reading
For more information on the history of educational facilities in the area, visit Primary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lodinews.
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