Florida’s Sundown Towns: A Dark Chapter in American Segregation History
Florida, like many states across America, harbored numerous sundown towns throughout the 20th century—communities that systematically excluded Black Americans after dark through intimidation, violence, and discriminatory policies. These towns represent a troubling chapter in the state’s history that continues to influence demographic patterns and social dynamics today.
What Were Sundown Towns?
A sundown town is not just a place where something racist happened. It is an entire community (or even county) that for decades was “all white” on purpose. The term came into use because of signs that directed “colored people” to leave town by sundown. These communities maintained racial exclusion through both formal policies and informal enforcement, creating what historian James Loewen documented as thousands of all-white communities across the United States.
Most sundown towns arose between about 1890, after the Reconstruction era ended, and 1968, when the Fair Housing Act prohibited racial discrimination in the sale, rental, financing, or advertising of housing. This period coincided with the implementation of Jim Crow laws and the systematic rollback of civil rights gains made during Reconstruction.
Florida’s Notable Examples
Jay, Florida
Perhaps the most documented Florida sundown town is Jay, a small community in the Florida Panhandle. Jay, Florida, once had signs aimed at Black people that warned, “don’t let the sun set on you in Jay.” Jay went from having 175 Black residents in the 1920 census to becoming almost entirely white. A small town in Florida known as Jay became a sundown town after an argument between a Black farmer and a White farmer drove the entire Black population out of the town. Today, The Florida town of Jay is in the news for being a racist sundown town with only four Black residents after driving out 175 citizens in 1922.
Gulfport, Florida
Gulfport, Florida, had an informal policy that barred Black people from staying in the town after sundown that lasted until the 1950s. Unlike Jay’s more dramatic expulsion, Gulfport maintained its exclusionary practices through Informal and unwritten patterns of exclusion existed throughout much of the 20th century, creating what was known as a “sundown town.” Without passing a single ordinance, city leaders had conveyed a strong message to Black Americans: If you have business in Gulfport, get done with it before sunset.
Methods of Exclusion
Florida’s sundown towns employed various tactics to maintain racial exclusion. Some communities erected explicit signage warning Black residents to leave by dark, while others relied on informal networks of intimidation and economic pressure. Real estate agents, banks, and local businesses often collaborated to prevent Black families from purchasing homes or establishing businesses in these areas.
The exclusion wasn’t always absolute—some towns allowed one or two Black families to remain, often those who provided essential services like domestic work for white residents. However, these exceptions were carefully controlled and monitored, serving more to legitimize the overall system of exclusion than to provide genuine integration.
Legacy and Contemporary Impact
The effects of sundown town policies extended far beyond their official end with civil rights legislation. These communities created lasting demographic patterns that persist today. Many former sundown towns remain predominantly white, with their histories of exclusion contributing to ongoing residential segregation patterns across Florida.
South Florida has a legacy of being part of the segregated South. A function of that past were “Sundown Towns” – cities or areas which were “white-only” after dark. Some say that history hangs over today. The economic and social capital that was denied to Black families for generations created wealth gaps and social networks that continue to influence community demographics.
Confronting the Past
Understanding Florida’s sundown town history is crucial for comprehending contemporary patterns of segregation and inequality. While sundown laws became illegal following the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the legacy of these policies requires ongoing acknowledgment and active efforts toward reconciliation and integration.
Recognition of this history helps explain why certain Florida communities remain largely segregated and highlights the importance of deliberate efforts to create truly inclusive communities that welcome residents of all backgrounds.