Shadows After Sunset: The Enduring Legacy of “SUNDOWN TOWNS” in the United States
THEY STILL EXIST TODAY
In the collective American memory, racism is often geographically assigned to the Jim Crow South. Yet, beneath the surface of Northern progressivism and Midwestern hospitality lies a sinister historical truth: sundown towns—white-only communities where African Americans were prohibited from residing, working, or even being present after sunset. These towns, scattered across the U.S. from the late 19th century through the 20th century, enforced their exclusionary practices through violence, intimidation, and local ordinances. Their existence challenges the notion that racism was solely a Southern enterprise and forces a national reckoning with the institutionalization of racial segregation across the country.
The Origins and Practices of Sundown Towns
The term was popularized by sociologist James W. Loewen, whose research documented thousands of towns that historically excluded African Americans. His book Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism explains that these communities used violence, restrictive covenants, and intimidation to maintain racial homogeneity well into the 20th century.
Many towns did not have written laws but relied on informal enforcement, including harassment by police or residents, discriminatory housing policies, and economic exclusion.
Examples of Towns Often Discussed in Research
Scholars and historical records frequently cite several communities that historically operated as sundown towns and are still sometimes discussed today in conversations about racial exclusion. These include:
- Anna, Illinois – Historically notorious; the town’s name has often been interpreted as shorthand for “Ain’t No Negroes Allowed.”
- Forsyth County, Georgia – Black residents were violently expelled in 1912 and the county remained almost entirely white for decades.
- Harrison, Arkansas – Known historically for exclusionary practices and later controversies involving white supremacist groups.
- Vidor, Texas – Historically associated with hostility toward Black residents and integration.
- Dearborn, Michigan – Historically restrictive toward Black residents during the 20th century under Mayor Orville L. Hubbard, though the city is now more diverse.
- Levittown, New York – One of several suburban developments created by William Levitt that used racially restrictive housing covenants.
Researchers stress that many places have changed significantly, while others still show patterns of exclusion through demographics and housing access.
Why Some Places Still Function Like Sundown Towns
Even without explicit racial rules, several structural factors allow these communities to maintain exclusionary patterns:
1. Housing Segregation
Historically, practices like redlining and racially restrictive covenants prevented Black families from purchasing homes in certain neighborhoods. Although outlawed by the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the legacy of those policies continues to shape demographics.
2. Economic Barriers
High housing costs, zoning restrictions, and limited affordable housing can function as modern gatekeeping mechanisms that maintain racial and class segregation.
3. Social Intimidation
In some communities, minorities report subtle or overt hostility—ranging from surveillance to harassment—which discourages long-term residency.
4. Political and Institutional Culture
Local policing, school zoning, and political leadership may reinforce social boundaries even without explicit racial language.
5. Demographic Momentum
If a town was historically all-white for generations, that demographic pattern often continues simply because new residents tend to resemble the existing population.
Are Sundown Towns Still Legal?
Explicit sundown policies are illegal today due to federal civil rights protections, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. However, historians argue that informal exclusion can still occur through social pressure, economic barriers, and residential patterns.
How Many Existed Historically?
Research suggests there were thousands of sundown towns across the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the Midwest, West, and parts of the South. According to Loewen’s work, entire counties sometimes functioned as sundown areas.
✅ In short: Modern America rarely has official sundown laws, but the legacy of racial exclusion, housing policy, and social norms means that some communities still operate in ways that resemble the old system.
The rise of sundown towns occurred primarily between the 1890s and 1960s, during a period of intense racial backlash following Reconstruction and the emergence of Black mobility. White residents in many towns, especially in the Midwest and North, adopted racial exclusion as a method of preserving “racial purity” and economic control. These towns often placed signs at their borders warning African Americans to leave by sundown, and many used violence, threats, or discriminatory ordinances to enforce this racial terror.
According to Loewen, these towns existed in at least 30 states, with especially high concentrations in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, and California. The practice was not just tolerated but reinforced by realtors, police, local businesses, and sometimes even churches.
Case Study: Anna, Illinois – “Ain’t No Negroes Allowed”
Perhaps the most infamous example is the town of Anna, Illinois, which has been widely believed to be an acronym for “Ain’t No N*s Allowed.” Located in Southern Illinois, Anna became a sundown town following a series of racial expulsions in the early 1900s, including the violent lynching of William “Froggie” James in nearby Cairo, Illinois, in 1909. Afterward, Black residents were systematically forced out of surrounding towns, including Anna.
Though no formal “sundown” signs are currently visible, the town’s demographic patterns and cultural memory have maintained its legacy of exclusion. As recently as 2019, Anna’s population was reported as over 95% white, and Black visitors have reported ongoing hostility and suspicion, particularly after dark. The Southern Poverty Law Center has cited Anna as a contemporary example of how the legacy of racial exclusion continues in subtle yet persistent ways (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2018).
A striking account came from journalist Logan Jaffe, who spent months in Anna documenting the ongoing racial tension. In her reporting for ProPublica, she found that many residents denied the sundown label while simultaneously acknowledging the town’s racial homogeneity. One resident told her, “We’re not racist—we just don’t have any Black people here,” demonstrating the quiet normalization of segregation in everyday speech and consciousness (Jaffe, 2019).
Why Are These Practices Allowed?
The persistence of sundown towns—and the lack of legal accountability—can be attributed to several factors. First, many of the practices were unwritten policies, enforced through vigilante violence rather than legislation, making them difficult to litigate or challenge in court. Second, law enforcement and local governments often collaborated with or turned a blind eye to these actions, ensuring no one was held responsible. Third, the federal government did little to intervene before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and even afterward, lacked enforcement power in many rural and suburban areas.
The psychology of white fear and racial entitlement also played a significant role. Whites in these towns often justified their actions through tropes of protecting women, property values, and “community harmony,” reinforcing the notion that Black presence was inherently threatening. These deeply embedded beliefs were supported by media portrayals, educational institutions, and local traditions that dehumanized Black people and erased Black contributions to American life.
The Legacy Today
Although formal sundown policies have mostly disappeared, their cultural residue remains potent. Many towns still maintain racially homogenous populations and unwelcoming reputations. In places like Vidor, Texas, Forsyth County, Georgia, and Elwood, Indiana, Black travelers are still warned to proceed with caution. These areas may not have signs anymore, but their histories are well known—passed down by both white residents and African Americans who experienced or heard of the dangers firsthand.
Moreover, the economic impact of these exclusionary practices lingers. By keeping Black families out of thriving towns, African Americans were denied access to housing, education, healthcare, and business opportunities. This has directly contributed to the racial wealth gap and the geographic concentration of poverty among Black Americans. It also means that generational trauma and spatial segregation are not accidents—they are the result of deliberate policies and practices.
Historical Map and Geographic Patterns
Research by historian James W. Loewen, author of Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, found that thousands of communities across the United States operated as sundown towns during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Contrary to popular belief, sundown towns were not only a Southern phenomenon. They were especially common in the Midwest, West, and border states, where Black populations were often driven out entirely.
States with particularly high concentrations historically included:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Missouri
- California
Many of these towns became almost completely white because African Americans were forced out through intimidation, violence, or discriminatory laws.
Examples of Historically Documented Sundown Towns
Several communities are often discussed in academic and historical research:
- Anna, Illinois – Historically infamous; the town name was often interpreted as shorthand for “Ain’t No Negroes Allowed.”
- Harrison, Arkansas – Long associated with white supremacist activity and exclusionary practices.
- Vidor, Texas – Historically hostile toward Black residents, particularly during school integration.
- Forsyth County, Georgia – In 1912, Black residents were violently expelled, leaving the county overwhelmingly white for decades.
- Dearborn, Michigan – Historically exclusionary during the tenure of Mayor Orville L. Hubbard, though the city has since become more diverse.
Some entire counties and suburbs developed reputations for exclusion through housing practices rather than explicit ordinances.
How Black Travelers Navigated These Areas
During the segregation era, Black travelers relied on a guidebook known as the The Negro Motorist Green Book, created by Victor Hugo Green in 1936.
The Green Book listed:
- Hotels that accepted Black guests
- Restaurants and gas stations that were safe
- Cities where Black travelers could stay overnight
This guide helped families avoid towns where they might face harassment or violence.
Why Some Places Still Appear Similar Today
Although explicit sundown policies are illegal under laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, several factors allow patterns of exclusion to persist.
1. Housing Segregation
Historical redlining and racially restrictive covenants shaped where families could buy homes. Even after these policies were outlawed, their effects remain visible in many neighborhoods.
2. Economic Barriers
High housing costs, zoning restrictions, and limited affordable housing often function as modern barriers that indirectly limit demographic diversity.
3. Social Culture
In some communities, minorities report subtle forms of intimidation or unwelcoming social climates that discourage settlement.
4. Demographic Momentum
If a town remained overwhelmingly white for generations, new residents often come from similar social networks, reinforcing the same demographic patterns.
Sundown Towns in the Southeast
In the Southeast, several areas gained reputations for exclusion during the twentieth century. For example:
- Forsyth County, Georgia, near Atlanta, was historically notorious for expelling Black residents in 1912.
- Certain small towns in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee also developed reputations for racial exclusion during the Jim Crow era.
Many of these communities have changed significantly since the late twentieth century, though the history remains an important part of understanding regional demographics.
The Broader Historical Impact
Historians estimate that thousands of towns across the United States were once sundown communities. These policies contributed significantly to the racial segregation of American suburbs and small towns, shaping patterns of wealth, education, and opportunity that persist today.
Understanding this history helps explain why some regions remain less diverse and why discussions about housing equity and community inclusion continue today.
Conclusion
The history of sundown towns reveals a disturbing truth: systemic racism in America has always been national in scope, deeply embedded in urban planning, real estate, law enforcement, and local governance. These towns are not relics of the past—they are active reminders of how geography was weaponized to maintain white supremacy. By naming towns like Anna, Vidor, Forsyth County, and Elwood and documenting their histories, we begin to dismantle the myth of Northern innocence and challenge the narrative of post-racial progress.
It is only through public acknowledgment, educational reform, and community reconciliation that the shadows of sundown towns can be dispelled. The question is not just “why were they allowed to do this?”—but “why are we still allowing the consequences to persist?”
References
Jaffe, L. (2019). In a town called Anna. ProPublica. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/in-a-town-called-anna
Loewen, J. W. (2005). Sundown towns: A hidden dimension of American racism. The New Press.
Southern Poverty Law Center. (2018). The unfinished business of the Civil Rights Movement: Sundown towns and racial exclusion. Retrieved from https://www.splcenter.org
Getting2theRoots.com. (2023). What are sundown towns? Retrieved from https://getting2theroots.com/sundown-towns
Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism – James W. Loewen. New York, NY: The New Press, 2005.
Equal Justice Initiative. (2017). Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror. Montgomery, AL.
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America – Richard Rothstein. New York, NY: Liveright Publishing, 2017.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration – Isabel Wilkerson. New York, NY: Random House, 2010.
The Negro Motorist Green Book – Victor Hugo Green. New York: Victor H. Green & Co., various editions (1936–1967).
Civil Rights Act of 1964. U.S. Congress.
Fair Housing Act of 1968. U.S. Congress.
National Museum of African American History and Culture. (n.d.). The Green Book and Travel in the Jim Crow Era.
Mapping Inequality Project. (University of Richmond, Virginia Tech, University of Maryland). Redlining Maps and Racial Segregation in the United States.
THE BROWN GIRL DILEMMA 