Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (New Orleans)

Streets named after Martin Luther King Jr. can be found in many cities of the United States and in nearly every major metropolis. There are also a number of other countries that have honored Martin Luther King Jr., including Italy and Israel. The first street in the United States named in his honor was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chicago in 1968. The number of streets named after King is increasing every year, and about 70% of these streets are in states which were members of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. King's home state of Georgia had the most, with 75 streets as of 2001; this had increased to 105 as of 2006.

As of 2003, there were over 600 American cities that had named a street after King. By 2004, this number had grown to 650, according to NPR. In 2006, Derek Alderman, a cultural geographer at East Carolina University, reported the number had increased to 730, with only 10 states in the country without a street named after King (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont). In 2014 he estimated that there were over 900 streets named after King in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. In 2019, ''National Geographic'' published an interactive mapping of more than 1,000 streets around the world named after King.

Business owners in the affected parts of cities have often filed objections (and in the case of Kansas City, voted in a referendum to reverse a designation) against streets named for King, making alarmist claims that naming a street after Martin Luther King would cause a severe decline in their businesses, associating violent crimes and homicides with a re-naming and claiming it makes the neighborhoods a King-named road passes through dangerous by proxy, though in many cases there is no correlation with that occurring.

The following is a list of streets named after King in the United States.

Alabama

* Andalusia: A junction with US-29 and US-84 is designated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway.
* Atmore: A thoroughfare on the east side of town is named Martin Luther King Avenue.
* Auburn: A section of Alabama State Route 14 is called Martin Luther King Drive, also known interchangeably as Loachapoka Road.
* Bay Minette: A portion of County Road 138 is labeled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
* Dothan: The portion of US 431 between Ross Clark Circle and its conjunction with US 231 is referred to as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
* Huntsville: Dr. Martin Luther King expressway, located in North Huntsville and part of the Northern bypass. Also known as Alabama State Route 255 from Alabama State Route 53 to Pulaski Pike.
* Mobile: On Mobile's northside area, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue runs from Congress Street in downtown Mobile up to the intersections of Craft Highway and Saint Stephens Road. The section was formerly known as Davis Avenue from Congress Street to Bizell Avenue, and Stone Street from Bizell Ave. to Saint Stephens Road.
* Montgomery: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway is I-85 from Eastern Boulevard to the I-65 interchange.
* Opp: Dr. Martin Luther King Drive runs from College Street to Maloy Street.
* Scottsboro: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Scottsboro runs north–south on the northwest side of town.
* Selma: In 1976, Sylvan Street was renamed Martin Luther King Street. King spent many days along Sylvan Street working for civil rights in the 1960s, especially by speaking at First Baptist Church and Brown Chapel. Brown Chapel is the background in a famous ''Time'' magazine photograph of King in the 1960s. Today, there is a monument honoring King in front of Brown Chapel. Brown Chapel was also the beginning of the route of the infamous Bloody Sunday march. Ironically, the street crosses Jefferson Davis Avenue, named after the president of the Confederacy.

Alaska

* Anchorage: A thoroughfare running from Elmore Road to East Tudor Road was built and given the name of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in 2010. This idea surfaced in the late 20th century. Initially, some advocates aimed for renaming portions of 9th Avenue, however this proposal resulted in rejection in the hands of a city-wide vote. Some attempted to name the performing arts center after King but failed as well. Despite both of these failures, some proponents were persistent and still desired a street in Anchorage named after King and were successful in 2006 when the Anchorage Assembly approved the proposal of dedicating a street after him. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue is seen as a reminder of King's legacy and position as a civil rights leader. Ten years after the opening of the street, in 2020, plans were announced to expand the avenue to Piper Street.

Arizona

* Eloy: A three-block-long portion of West Second Street was renamed by the city council to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street.
* Glendale: Maryland Avenue from 91st to 95th Avenue was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard by the city of Glendale in 2016.
* Maricopa: M. L. K. Jr. Boulevard runs by the Copper Sky Recreation Center.
* Mesa: Martin Luther King Jr. Way runs along the Mesa Amphitheater between Center St & Centennial Way.
* Phoenix: Phoenix was one of the last major cities not to have a major street named after Martin Luther King, Jr. In 2015, a stretch of Broadway Road in the predominately Black and Hispanic South Phoenix neighborhood was unofficially renamed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard between 67th Avenue and 48th Street. Broadway retains its original name, as the MLK Boulevard street signs are mainly posted at intersections with a traffic light.
* Sierra Vista: Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway runs east to west between Moorman and Arizona State Route 90, passing Veteran's Memorial Park.
* Tucson: M L King Jr. Way at the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, south of 36th Street near Kino Parkway.

Arkansas

* Bentonville: S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. runs approx. 0.7 mi. from S.E. 5th St. at its southern end, crossing E. Central Ave. (AR-72) and becoming N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., ending at N.E. John Deshields Blvd. at its northern end.
* Fayetteville: Fayetteville City Council voted in January 2008 to officially rename Sixth Street, which passes through the city's historically black neighborhood as well as the southern boundary of the University of Arkansas campus, to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Part of the road is designated as Arkansas Highway 180.
* Forrest City: The former Honeysuckle Lane in Forrest City was renamed Martin Luther King Drive.
* Hot Springs: Sections of US 270 and US 70 are named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway.
* Jonesboro: Commerce Drive ( Arkansas Highway 18 Spur/U.S. Route 78) between East Highland Drive (Arkansas Highway 18) and Interstate 555 (Joe N. Martin Expressway) was officially renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in December 2019. Future extensions of Commerce Drive will be renamed in MLK's honor. An overpass on Red Wolf Blvd/Stadium Blvd ( US Highway 49/Arkansas Highway 1) interchange over Interstate 555 was also named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in August 2011.
* Kensett: East and West MLK Drive runs northwest–southeast through most of Kensett.
* Little Rock: In 1992, High Street was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The street, which begins next to the Arkansas State Capitol building, is home to parades and community events. Martin Luther King Jr. Interdistrict Magnet Elementary School is located on the street.
* Malvern: US 270 Business Loop is named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It becomes Oliver Lancaster Boulevard when crossing into the neighboring city of Rockport. As the cities' boundaries meet multiple times, a driver can be on MLK Jr. Blvd., then Lancaster Blvd., then back on MLK Jr. Blvd. without ever turning off the highway.
* Texarkana: See Texarkana, Texas.
* West Memphis: Martin Luther King Drive runs from US 70 to Mound City Road. It junctions with I-55 and I-40 and is also where all the truck stops in West Memphis are.

California

* Bakersfield: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard travels from California Avenue south to Brundage Lane.
* Chico: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway travels north–south from a dead end north of East 20th Street to East Park Avenue.
* Fresno: South Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in South Fresno begins at California Street (now Cesar Chavez Boulevard) where the street itself continues from Pottle Avenue and runs south to North Avenue. At this point upon leaving Fresno city limits into unincorporated Fresno County, it becomes South Fig Avenue, which was the previous street name in Fresno proper before it was renamed to MLK, Jr. Boulevard.
* Hayward: Martin Luther King Drive in Hayward travels north–south from Cannery Park to Winton Avenue.
* Long Beach: Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue (shortened as Martin L. King Avenue) runs north–south in the Eastside of Long Beach between East 7th Street and East 21st Street. This portion was originally named California Avenue, although the former name is still in use; Martin L. King Avenue continues as California Avenue once it enters the enclave of Signal Hill before re-entering Long Beach, retaining the original name.
* Los Angeles: In 1983, Santa Barbara Avenue in the South Region of Los Angeles was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, three years before U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed a law to declare Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday. That event was celebrated by the first ever Kingdom Day Parade; years later the event was made an annual tradition. It is typically held on the street between Crenshaw Boulevard and Western Avenue. Due to the length of Dr. King's name, the roadway name is often abbreviated as ''King Blvd.'' on its traffic signs and sometimes called ''MLK'' Blvd. Running east–west, MLK Boulevard begins as a major thoroughfare at Obama Boulevard (formerly Rodeo Road), running until Central Avenue. From Central Avenue, it continues as a residential street in two discontinuous segments due to the presence of Jefferson High School: between Central and Hooper avenues, and then from Compton Avenue to Alameda Street.
* Lynwood: A portion of Century Boulevard was renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard within the Lynwood city limits.
* Merced: Formerly J Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way is the north–south State Route 59.
* Modesto: runs east–west from a dead end as Elm Avenue, then curves to run north–south as Martin Luther King Drive and sometimes abbreviated to S M.L.K. Dr. to change name to Sutter Avenue after crossing Paradise Road to a dead end on the west side.
* Oakland and Berkeley: Grove Street, which stretched for several miles north from Downtown Oakland into North Berkeley, was renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in 1983–1984. Berkeley made the change by resolution of the city council on November 8, 1983. The street had once represented the dividing line between neighborhoods where minorities could and could not live or buy property. The street begins shortly before Embarcadero West in Oakland near the city's port, and continues through Berkeley until crossing over Codornices Creek, where it becomes The Alameda.
* Riverside: In November 1993, the Riverside City Council voted to rename a portion of Pennsylvania Avenue and Box Springs Boulevard to Martin Luther King Boulevard. It runs from Kansas Avenue to Interstate 215.
* Sacramento: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard travels from Broadway south to Franklin Boulevard. It is crossed by SR 99. It was originally named Sacramento Boulevard.
* San Diego:
** Market Street was briefly renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Way in 1986, before reverting to its previous name later.
** In 1989, a portion of SR 94 was renamed the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway, designated between I-5 and SR 125.
** In 2010 members of the Broadway Heights community in San Diego renamed Weston Street after King. Martin Luther King Jr. Way is a one-block street connecting Charlene and Tiffin avenues.
* San Francisco: Martin Luther King Drive is one of two roads that run virtually the entire length of San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Park—the other is John F. Kennedy Drive. It was renamed from South Drive.
* Stockton: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a major east–west corridor. It runs from I-5 on the west to Main Street on the east near SR 99. West of I-5, it is still known by its former name, Charter Way. Charter Way got its name in honor of the charter of the City of Stockton. Before the street was Charter Way, the street was known as South Street.

Colorado

* Colorado Springs: A freeway segment of US Route 24 is named Martin Luther King Jr. Bypass.
* Denver and Aurora: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a major street running through the eastern part of Denver, terminating on the west at Downing Street. It is a divided parkway that was formerly East 32nd Avenue. East of Quebec Street the street shifts slightly southward into the alignment of the former East 30th Avenue, passing through the Central Park neighborhood. At its eastern terminus, it follows the south edge of Bluff Lake Nature Park and then turns south into the alignment of East 26th Avenue, straddling the border between Denver and Aurora on its final two blocks before reaching its eastern terminus at Peoria Street.

Connecticut

* Middletown: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way is a one-block-long street in the heart of Middletown.
* New Britain: Martin Luther King Drive is the name for the section of Connecticut Route 71 between Main Street and Stanley Street.
* New Haven: Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, formerly North Frontage Road, is a westward one-way main entrance into New Haven, home of Yale University. The name was successfully dedicated in 2011 through continuous efforts by New Haven's Muslim alderman Yusuf Shah. Exits off of I-91 and I-95 take drivers onto the boulevard into downtown New Haven, which then terminates at West River Memorial Park. The road is also designated as Connecticut Route 34.
* Norwalk: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is located in South Norwalk. It is one of the busiest streets in the area and many popular places are located on it, notably the South Norwalk train station.

Delaware

* Dover: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard begins at Federal Street as a one-way pair that passes Delaware Legislative Hall before becoming a four-lane divided highway that crosses the St. Jones River and heads east to intersect US 13 before ending at Bay Road a short distance later, where the road becomes South Little Creek Road. On January 19, 2013, the city of Dover renamed Court Street, Duke of York Street, and William Penn Street near Delaware Legislative Hall to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Originally Delaware Route 8 (Division Street) was to be renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, but merchants opposed.
* Lewes: West Fourth Street is co-signed as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way. On February 28, 2020, the honorific street signs were unveiled in a ceremony.
* Wilmington: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard connects Lancaster Avenue to Front Street, traveling from I-95 to the Wilmington Amtrak Station at US 13 Business. It provides a gateway for the New Castle County suburbs to Wilmington's waterfront, downtown, and the transit hubs from I-95. Eastbound (inbound) lanes connect with Lancaster Avenue and form part of eastbound Delaware Route 48 (with the westbound direction of the route along Second Street), and are therefore able to draw from both exit 6 off of I-95, and the surrounding urban neighborhoods of Wilmington that lie west of downtown. Westbound (outbound) lanes of MLK Jr. Boulevard terminate at, and merge directly with I-95, providing a direct link between city and highway only. Wilmington Boulevard was renamed Martin Luther King Boulevard in 1989.

Florida

* Bartow: Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd is a short two-way street that runs from South L. B. Brown Ave, crosses U.S. Route 17/ 98, and ends at Oaklawn Dr.
* Bonifay: Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue is a four-block-long residential street on the northeast side of Bonifay.
* Brooksville: Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard (formerly Summit Street) is entirely former County Road 581A (Hernando County, Florida) from US 41 to US 98/ State Road 50A.
* Chipley: Martin Luther King Drive is in the northern part of Chipley.
* Clearwater: Martin Luther King Jr Avenue runs north–south in Downtown Clearwater, from Harbor Drive to Jasper Street. North of the Cleveland Street intersection, it is North Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and south of the intersection it is South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
* Crestview: Martin Luther King Jr Avenue runs east–west in Downtown Crestview, from Lloyd Street to Main Street. The street turns into Chestnut Ave, once east of Main Street.
* Dade City: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was originally East Main Avenue from 14th Street to the Moore-Mickens Education Center.
* Fort Myers: Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard (formerly Anderson Avenue) is Florida State Road 82, from US 41 near the Caloosahatchee River bridge east to I-75.
* Fort Pierce: M L King Jr Blvd (25th Street) is Florida State Road (SR) 615/N 25 Street/ M.L. King Jr. Boulevard.
* Fort Walton Beach: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard loops around the west side of Fort Walton Beach, ending near Northwest Florida State College.
* Gretna: Gadsden County Road 270 is Martin Luther King Boulevard for five blocks as it passes through Gretna.
* Inverness: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue emerges from US 41 and lasts approximately .
* Jacksonville: The Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway is a freeway bypass around downtown Jacksonville, carrying US 1 Alternate.
* Kissimmee: M.L.K. Jr. Boulevard, built in 2013, runs east–west from the end of Neptune Road to the Kissimmee Gateway Airport.
* Lakeland: Martin L. King Jr. Avenue replaced North Dakota Avenue, and is designated Florida State Road 563 between Sikes Road at Florida State Road 539 and U.S. Route 92.
* Miami area: North 62nd Street (East 9th Street in Hialeah) is called Martin Luther King Boulevard since he gave speeches all across the South, including the city of Miami. It is unknown when the road got this name. But some Hialeah residents say it was in the middle of the 1970s.
* Melbourne: Airport Blvd was renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd between W New Haven Ave (US192) and S Apollo Blvd.
* Mulberry: NE 9th Ave becomes SE Dr. MLK Jr. Ave south of E Canal St. for about until it becomes SE 5th St.
* Panama City: Martin Luther King Boulevard replaces parts of Cove Boulevard and State Road 77.
* Port St. Joe: In the northern part of Port St. Joe, Martin Luther King Boulevard is a residential street running north–south for nine blocks. It forms an extension of David Langston Drive.
* Punta Gorda: In the most eastern portion of the town running north to south Featuring the Blanchard House Museum.
* Riviera Beach, Florida: In 1994, Riviera Beach City Councilwoman Bertha Orange, led the original effort to rename Blue Heron Blvd. as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., by collecting more than 2,500 signed petitions. Ultimately, the decision was made to rename 8th Street. On April 2, 1994, a ceremony was held to rename 8th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Since 2015, the highway intersects with renamed, President Barack Obama Highway. This marks the first intersection of these roadway names in America.
* Safety Harbor: 4th Street in Safety Harbor has been renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, although it is an east–west street running about across town.
* Sanford: Bevier Road in Sanford was renamed to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in 2008.
* St. Augustine: Martin Luther King Avenue runs from north to south through southwestern St. Augustine.
* St. Petersburg: The St. Petersburg City Council gave Ninth Street the additional name of M.L. King Jr. Street in 1987; in 2003, the street was fully renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street.
* Sarasota: Martin Luther King Boulevard runs east from North Tamiami Trail to Tuttle Avenue.
* Springfield: 18th Street in Springfield is named Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. It runs north–south through about two-thirds of Springfield from Washington Street on the north, to Morgan Avenue at its south end.
* Tallahassee: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard runs north–south through Tallahassee, Florida. A portion of S. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard runs just blocks west of the State Capitol.
* Tampa: On April 11, 1968, one week after the assassination, Tampa became the first city to rename a street, with the city council voting unanimously "to change the name of Main Street, between North Boulevard and MacDill Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard in honor of the assassinated Negro leader." In 1989, the name was extended further eastward to include the entire stretch of Buffalo Avenue from Drew Park to Plant City was renamed "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard", also designated as State Road 574. Notable attractions include Raymond James Stadium.
* Tarpon Springs: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive runs across Tarpon Springs, from US 19 west to Whitcomb Bayou.

Georgia

* Americus: US 19 through Americus is named Martin Luther King Boulevard. The city was reluctant to grant the name, until black community leaders threatened to boycott Americus businesses.
* Arlington: M. L. King Drive is a residential street running east to west nearly the entire length of Arlington.
* Atlanta: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Atlanta (King's hometown) runs east–west through the city. Beginning at the Chattahoochee River, it continues from Mableton Parkway in Cobb County, then runs through unincorporated Fulton County before entering the city limits. In Atlanta, ML King Drive goes through the West side, West End and downtown before reaching its east end at Oakland Avenue near Oakland Cemetery. The alignment of ML King Drive follows what was originally Gordon Road ( SR 139), Mozley Drive and then Hunter Street. It is a major landmark for tourism, as it borders the Atlanta University Center, a conglomerate of historically black colleges and universities that includes King's alma mater Morehouse College.
* Athens: The Dr. Martin Luther King Parkway runs alongside a park along the North Oconee River in Athens. A previous plan to rename Reese Street after King was rejected by African American residents of Athens, who opposed having King's name associated with what they described as a "drug-infested" street.
* Augusta: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard serves as a connector, linking Georgia State Route 4 (known as Milledgeville Road southwest of this intersection and 15th Street/Ruth B. Crawford Highway north-northeast of it) with Old Savannah Road and Twiggs Street.
* Bainbridge: Planter Street is named Martin Luther King Drive, running east out to Old Whigham Road.
* Blakely: The Georgia State Route 39 bypass of Blakely is named Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
* Butler: Georgia State Route 137 running north out of Butler is Martin Luther King Boulevard.
* Cartersville: M.L.K. Jr. Drive is an east–west street that crosses Joe Frank Harris Parkway north of the Market Square shopping plaza.
* Cedartown: US 278/ SR 6 is named Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between US 27 Bus. and US 27.
* Columbus: Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (most of which was renamed from Brookhaven Blvd in 1978) runs from 10th Ave (where it turns into 10th St) to Lawyers Lane, in which the road turns into Brookhaven Blvd.
* Davisboro: In Davisboro, 5th street is also marked "M. L. King Jr. Street".
* Donalsonville: Crawford Street east of Tenille Avenue becomes MLK Jr. Drive, running east–west out the east side of town.
* Gainesville: The portion of Myrtle Street through the center of Gainesville was renamed Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in 2000 after women activists in town petitioned for the change. Businesses along the street had blocked this change three times previously.
* Griffin: US 41 is co-designated as Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway when it enters Spalding County from Pike County at the rural junction with County Line Road, southwest of Griffin's city limits, continuing north through the westside of Griffin, reverting to the single designation US 41 as it passes the junction with SR92 in northwest Griffin
* Ideal: Macon County Route 69 running west out of Ideal is named Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
* LaGrange