How it all began…
History
LANE COLLEGE
Lane College is a private institution founded in 1882 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church in America as the C.M.E. High School. Named after Methodist Bishop Isaac Lane, who co-founded the school. The school’s primary purpose was the education of newly freed slaves, and the original curriculum focused on the preparation of “teachers and preachers.”
Lane College is now one of America’s oldest colleges, steeped in great social traditions. Thirty-six buildings sprawling across 55 acres create a truly exceptional academic and living environment with award-winning and accredited academic programs.
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
Jackson, a city in Madison County, Tennessee, USA, serves as the county seat. Situated approximately 70 miles (110 km) east of Memphis, it holds significant importance as a regional trade center for West Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, the city’s total population stood at 68,205. Jackson plays a central role in the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area and is part of the combined statistical area known as Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee.
With its substantial population, Jackson takes the title of Madison County’s largest city and is the second-largest city in West Tennessee, next only to Memphis. Notably, it houses the courthouse for the Tennessee Supreme Court, specifically serving West Tennessee, due to its prominence in the region during the establishment of the court in 1834.
During the antebellum era, Jackson functioned as a pivotal market city for an agricultural region heavily reliant on cotton cultivation—the primary commodity crop. Its importance surged in 1851 when the city evolved into a vital railroad hub, connecting major markets in the north, south, east, and west. This strategic development attracted numerous traders and railroad workers during the late 19th century, especially after the American Civil War, when railroads were constructed.