When youre looking at the places in texas with the highest number of kkk klaverns per capita back in the day, this is an accurate list. Sundown towns, also known as sunset towns or gray towns, are allwhite municipalities or neighborhoods in the united states that practiced a form of segregation by excluding nonwhites via some combination of discriminatory local laws, intimidation, and violence. They are so named because some marked their city limits with placards warning specific groups of people to stay away after the sun went down. For example, in 1876 whites drove the chinese residents from antioch, ca, and in 1877 whites burned. Results for the country of united states are set to show towns with a minimum population of 250 people, you can decrease or. Sundown state bank is locallyowned and headquartered in sundown, texas. Loewen from maine to california, thousands of communities kept out african americans or sometimes chinese americans, jewish americans, etc. I was treated well by the large majority and most were decent people. The sundown town was prohibited by the civil rights act of 1968. They were known as sundown towns all white towns where black americans were not welcome after the sun went down.
Possible sundown towns in tx you can assess the information provided, to form your own determination as to whether the town is a confirmed sundown town. They are unlikely to live there its made clear to them that doi. Sundown, texas city information, fast facts, schools. And white it was, and white it has remained, right up into the late 20th century when, though there were a handful of mexicans in residence, there were still no africanamericans. Central texas north central texas south texas gulf coast texas panhandle texas hill country east texas south texas west texas. Texas was identified to have had several sundown towns. Many communities in the united states remain sundown towns, where africanamericans are not welcome after dark. Sundown is a city in hockley county, texas, united states. Courthouses jails churches schoolhouses bridges theaters depots rooms with a past monuments statues gas stations post offices museums water towers grain. Sundown towns under a spotlight in new investigation discovery documentary. I first heard about sundown towns after coming across a near viral social media post urging african americans to not stop in vidor, texas, regardless of the occasion. Compare sundown, texas to any other place in the usa.
Vidor, texas, was once known as a sundown town, a place where africanamericans werent welcome after dark. Sundown, tx the handbook of texas online texas state. Sundown towns are communities that for decadesformally or informallykept out african americans or other groups. Sundown, tx real estate sundown homes for sale realtor. Route 66 started out in illinois, a state that itself had nearly 150 sundown towns. And im not talking about towns with beautiful sun set sceneries. The building houses government offices, including the sundown legislative body, and provides public records, government services, and information about sundown services.
Town hall, coordinates, email address, mayor, population, map, tourism, activities, weather, hotel, real estate, company. This category has the following subcategories, out of total. Opinion sundown towns, past and present the new york. This is the result of a combination of different factors. A sundown town is a town where only people of a certain ethnic, social, or religious group are allowed in the town after dark. Pages in category sundown towns in texas the following 10 pages are in this category, out of 10 total. Between 1890 and 1954, thousands of independent communities across the united states drove out their black populations or took steps to forbid african americans from living in them. Do you agree with the definition of a sundown town. This page will help you find a list of the nearest surrounding towns, villages, cities nearby or within a 25 mile distance 40. These are the 10 cities in texas with the most kkk members.
It comes from signs that were allegedly posted stating that people of color nonwhites had to leave the town by sundown. Town sundown in the region texas town hall directory. Some allowed a nonwhite household or two as an exception. It is worth noting that the first sundown towns in california were created by expelling chinese. Alba, texas, founded in 1881 is one the word alba is spanish for white. Below is a chart which lists all cities in texas with kkk organizations from 19151940. Sundown towns, sometimes known as sunset towns, are allwhite municipalities or neighborhoods in the united states that practice racism in a form of segregation by enforcing restrictions excluding people of other races via some combination of racial, discriminatory local laws, intimidation, and violence between 1890 and 1968. Im referring to predominantly white towns that carry a policy of kicking blacks out after.
The most infamous examples of sundown towns are probably the allwhite towns which were scattered across. The new sundown towns and racism in modern america. Sundown state bank takes pride in having served our community since 1972. Texas had a large number of sundown towns, especially in its eastern section.
This category lists populated places in the united states that at any point practiced a form of segregation known as a sundown town. On sundown texas map, you can view all states, regions, cities, towns, districts, avenues, streets and popular centers satellite, sketch and terrain maps. Inclusion in this category does not necessarily mean that discriminatory policies continue to the present day. Town hall and city united states free directory united states town halls and towns. Not all towns listed are sundown towns, and not all sundown towns are on the list. Browse mls listings in sundown and take real estate virtual tours at realtor. But in general, sundown towns existed by reputation. There are some small towns ive been in with slight hints of that vibe but nothing serious. A sundown town is an area that is purposely allwhite. When signs said get out in sundown towns, racism in the rearview mirror by peter. With interactive sundown texas map, view regional highways maps, road situations, transportation, lodging guide, geographical map, physical maps and more information. Sundown towns still exist today point blank entertainment. Independent sundown towns range in size from hamlets like alix, arkansas, population 185, to large cities like appleton, wisconsin, with 57,000 residents in 1970. About 50 percent of the people would be described as redneckhillbillies by most people.
Sundown town a sundown town was a community in the united states where nonwhites especially african americans were systematically excluded from living in or passing through after the sun went. A hidden dimension of american racism, said, is a town that takes the heat for what he found to be many other racially. Sundown town a sundown town was a community in the united states where nonwhites especially african americans were systematically excluded from living in or passing through after the sun went down. Norman couple relives history of sundown towns in oklahoma. The owner of the local sawmill and the sawmill workers homes was principally responsible. Maps of sundown, texas check out the latest maps in a variety of categories including cost of living, population, and commute time. The sundown city hall, located in sundown, tx, provides municipal services for residents of sundown.
The road certainly did not mean freedom for everyone, and it. Bob slaughter derived the name from that of a favorite movie, although some oldtimers believe that the choice followed a long discussion among settlers which ended at sundown. Texas, was once known as a sundown town, a place where africanamericans werent. List of towns and cities near sundown texas within 25. The legacy of sundown towns in america gen rise media. Seach for information about sundown around the web. When signs said get out in sundown towns, racism in. A sundown town is a community that for decades kept nonwhites from living in it and was thus allwhite on purpose.
Sundown suburbs formed a little later, mostly from 1900 to 1968. Sundown, at the junction of farm roads 301 and 303, fifteen miles southwest of levelland in southwestern hockley county, was originally part of the c. Vidor, as the sociologist jim loewen, author of sundown towns. Are there still any sundown townsracistantiblack towns. Author james loewen explains how sundown rules created whiteonly towns, that remained so even today. Sundown towns continued to form in arkansas as late as 1954, when white residents of sheridan grant county rid themselves of their black neighbors in response to brown v. Texas counties texas towns az texas ghost towns texas regions. Located in texas region, the sundown town is an a local administrative entity run by a mayor. Sundown towns provide the racially pristine community that racist whites have craved, and they still do in the form of pictureperfect white picket fences and a driveway with a golden retriever. Outside the traditional southstates historically dominated by slavery, where sundown towns are rareprobably a majority of all incorporated places kept out african americans. Some of these places may be counties or neighborhoods rather than towns.
According to the post, vidor is not the only town black people in america should be concerned about harrison, arkansas is also a town of concern, featuring a billboard at its. Loewen, author of lies my teacher told me, lies across america, and sundown towns. Many southern towns yes, even those in texas and bell county had sundown ordinances, taken from the frequently seen warning sign posted for blacks, dont let the sun go down. Beginning in about 1890 and continuing until 1968, white americans established thousands of towns across the. The present black population of orange county remains one of the lowest among metropolitan areas. Often as a suburb formed or shortly thereafter, it got. I think an original list was generated based on black populations those towns with few or no black residents were considered to be probable sundown towns, and then users sent in comments or other suggestions. Vidor, texas texas had a large number of sundown towns, especially in its eastern section.