Living in Auburn AL: The Story of Toomer Street and Cox Street’s Transformation
Living in Auburn, AL means walking streets where history and progress meet — and few places capture that better than Toomer Street and Cox Street. These two roads, connecting Magnolia Avenue and West Glenn Avenue, tell the story of Auburn’s earliest days, its deep roots in Auburn University, and the dramatic growth that continues to shape life here today.
Cox Street: From College Farm to Community Hub
In the 1870s, before Auburn was a bustling university town, Cox Street was home to the Auburn Agricultural and Mechanical College’s College Farm — roughly fifteen acres that produced everything from corn and cotton to turnips and Irish potatoes. Early reports bragged that more came from that small farm “than on fifty acres anywhere else in Lee County.”
By the 1880s, Amos Hill Cox and his family settled here, running a thriving market known for “fresh meats, fish, oysters, and vegetables.” Later, his daughter Mary Cox opened The Cox House, a guest house and boarding home near today’s 265 Glenn Avenue. Auburn newspapers once called it “one of the most beautiful gardens in Auburn.”
Faith and family also grew along Cox Street. The AME Zion Church was established here in 1903, followed decades later by the Village Christian Church, which opened its worship hall in 1956 before redevelopment brought new apartments and condos.
What began as farmland and family homes evolved into a core piece of Auburn real estate, where faith, education, and community built the foundation of Auburn living.
Toomer Street: From Pasture to Progress
Just a few blocks away, Toomer Street began as Mr. Toomer’s pasture, the home and land of Sheldon Toomer, one of Auburn’s earliest residents. Locals in the 1940s remembered the area for its pecan trees, small garden, and even a cow or two grazing in the field.
By mid-century, the street was lined with student and faculty housing — small cottages and duplexes where Auburn University professors, art faculty, and students lived, taught, and created. Homes along Toomer were once rented by well-known Auburn artists such as Maltby Sykes and Harry Lowe, giving the street a distinctive creative pulse.
As Auburn University expanded, Toomer Street changed quickly. Many of those houses made way for Greek housing, student rentals, parking decks, and modern mixed-use condos that serve today’s growing population. The evolution reflects Auburn’s balance between preserving history and meeting the needs of new generations moving here.
Auburn Living: Balancing Charm and Change
For lifelong locals, the transformation of Toomer and Cox Streets can feel bittersweet. The old homes and gardens once defined Auburn’s small-town feel, while today’s modern condos and walkable amenities define Auburn living in 2025.
As an Auburn University alumna and long-time REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate, I’ve watched these streets evolve over the years — and I love helping people discover what makes each corner of Auburn, AL unique.
Whether you’re drawn to Auburn’s history or its modern growth, understanding where the city came from helps you appreciate where it’s going.
Call or text 334-332-7263, or visit AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com to explore historic neighborhoods, modern condos, and every lifestyle Auburn has to offer.
Laura Sellers is a top-rated REALTOR® based in Auburn, Alabama, serving home buyers and sellers throughout Auburn and Opelika. With deep roots in the community and decades of experience, Laura specializes in residential real estate, Auburn University faculty relocation, and helping clients transition smoothly—whether they’re moving across town or across the country. Learn more at AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com.
Quick Q & A
Q: What is the history of Cox Street in Auburn AL?
A: It began as the College Farm for the Auburn Agricultural and Mechanical College in the 1870s, later home to the Cox family, a thriving market, guest house, and two historic churches.
Q: How did Toomer Street get its name?
A: It was named for Sheldon Toomer, whose family farmed the land near today’s Magnolia Avenue. His pasture and pecan trees became part of the core of modern downtown Auburn.
Q: What’s the biggest change along Toomer and Cox today?
A: The shift from faculty homes and student rentals to new condos, parking decks, and mixed-use housing near campus — a reflection of Auburn’s ongoing growth and popularity.
Homes, y’all!
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