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James W. Loewen (1942-2021)

We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague and remain committed to the work he began.

Palm Beach

Florida

Basic Information

Type of Place
Independent City or Town
Metro Area
Politics c. 1860?
Don’t Know
Unions, Organized Labor?
Don’t Know

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Probable
Was there an ordinance?
Don't Know
Sign?
Don’t Know
Year of Greatest Interest
Still Sundown?
Probably Not, Although Still Very Few Black People

Census Information

The available census data from 1860 to the present
Total White Black Asian Native Hispanic Other BHshld
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990 9814 58
2000
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Unknown

Main Ethnic Group(s)

  • Unknown

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

A black man who grew up in West Palm Beach used to
fish in Palm Beach, but had to be careful to get out
before dark. He once tried to go to a movie theater in
Palm Beach, but was threatened and made to leave.

Until at least 1985, black domestic workers and other
laborers had to were security tags in Palm Beach or
face arrest.

“Palm Beach and Miami Beach require all Negroes to
be off the streets and out of the city limits by 8PM,
unless obviously engaged in domestic service,
delivering merchandise, or some similar work.”

56 of Palm Beach’s 58 black residents in 1990 are adults.

According to hearsay, Palm Beach may have even had a sign.

A past resident recalled blacks having to be out of town by nightfall or they were arrested. This person indicated that the police station used to fingerprint and photograph the few blacks that worked in the local club so that they would not be arrested after sundown. (email from January 2011).