Free Hill Community

Free Hill was founded when Virginia Hill, the daughter of a wealthy North Carolina planter, purchased 2,000 acres of hilly land in what was then Overton County. She freed her slaves and turned the property over to them before leaving the area. Folklore suggests that among the freed individuals were her own children. The community's name reflects both the surname of its original residents and their legal status as free individuals.

During its peak, Free Hill was a vibrant, self-sustaining community. It boasted two grocery stores, three clubs, two eateries, two churches, a school, skilled artisans, and approximately 300 residents. The community provided a haven for runaway slaves and Black outlaws, offering protection and a sense of freedom in its remote, hilly geography.