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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.

Palmetto

Georgia

Basic Information

Type of Place
Suburb
Metro Area
Politics c. 1860?
Strongly Democratic
Unions, Organized Labor?
Don’t Know

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Possible
Was there an ordinance?
Don't Know
Sign?
Don’t Know
Year of Greatest Interest
Still Sundown?
Don’t Know

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 1029 252
1950 1257 350
1960
1970 2045 699
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Violent Expulsion

Main Ethnic Group(s)

  • Unknown

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

A Georgia woman writes:
“I have family who live in Palmetto, Georgia, in south
Fulton County. I’ve heard the story from them that all
black males in the town were shot following the
supposed rape of a white woman and that many
survivors left afterward. Sorry I can’t give more
specifics as to date, etc. I was horrified when I heard it
as a teenager recounted matter of factly, even with a
trace of humor. Seems plausible, unfortunately. I
wonder how many of these all white towns became
that way due to such terroristic attacks.”

Email 1/9/08:
Message: Palmetto is almost half African-American now. Caucasians will be a clear minority there by the next census. Not a sundown town by any stretch of the imagination.