In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many towns across the United States passed ordinances that prohibited black people from living within town limits. Sundown towns started as a way to keep African Americans from moving into all-white neighborhoods and taking white jobs. History of Sundown Towns in Texas and across the USA However, there are also examples of towns that excluded other minority groups, such as Jews, Mormons, Native Americans, Chinese Americans, and Mexican Americans, to name a few. The term is most commonly used in reference to towns that were segregated by race during the Jim Crow era.
If you’re ever driving through the great state of Texas, be sure to keep an eye out for any “sundown towns.” What is a Sundown Town in Texas?Ī sundown town is an American city or town in which, historically, non-white people were not allowed to live or stay after dark.
But there is a dark side to the Lone Star State that many people are unaware of. When most people think of Texas, they think of cowboys, cattle, and wide-open spaces.