Between 1922 and 1924, the town had a pretty large KKK presence. Soon more settlers arrived. She and her husband moved to Vienna about 10 years ago from northern Illinois, chasing work and a cheaper cost of living. A publication by the countys historical society chronicled the lives of several African Americans in the town between 1890 and 1940. Pekin lost more people than Peoria in the 2020 Census: How can the drop be reversed? Towns that in the past kept out Mexicans, Asian Americans, Jews, or Native Americans no longer exclude them today. In Arberys death, an echo of the sundown towns that banned and threatened Black people. Morgan, Gordon D. Black Hillbillies of the Arkansas Ozarks. When his turn came to face the judge, he asked to speak to the prosecutor. James W. Loewen is emeritus professor of sociology from the University of Vermont and visiting professor in African American Studies at the University of Illinois. The terms were used by both Black and white people. Its not by law that Black people remain a tiny population in many towns, Dexter said. A Sundown Town Sees Its First Black Lives Matter Protest Most people I met in Anna, Illinois, wish the racist lore behind the citys name would go away. There are 673 Black Pekin residents, making up just over 2% of the town's population of 33,857, according to the latest census data. The population in 1930 was 2,381. As a result, since 1968 no town (or neighborhood) states openly that it is all white on purpose. Towns like Utica, Ohio, and Goshen, Ind., are beginning to come to terms with a legacy of racism that has largely evaded history books. WebLego 41027 - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. Article continues below. Later, in 1827, he moved to Danville. Another lives across the street with her boyfriend, Nicholas Lewis. This building has 3 stories and a basement. Dozens of armed men took to the streets of Vienna and the surrounding fields, backed up by bloodhounds and spotters in low-flying planes. On the 3rd floor was the Rhoades Opera House. A couple of blocks from the field where Viennas Black community once lived, down a narrow dead-end street, a grandmother with pink fingernails and an easy laugh watches over an extended family that spans much of Americas Black-white divide. Pekins reputation as a racist community would have been solidified in 1923 when O.W. If you have a suggestion about this website or are experiencing a problem with it, or if you need to report abuse on the site, please let us know. At the Klans height, there were 94 active Kalverns in Illinois. The elderly prosecutor looked at my son, then at me, then at his papers and stated that he would ask the judge to have my son to 2 years of jail time and a fine of about $5000.00 plus court costs and have his drivers license taken away for 10 years. One day after he surrendered, he was sentenced to 180 years in prison. The population was 1,539. Ive had Black babysitters. Martin met Abraham in Springfield in 1824. Do they describe any actions whites took to cause the decline? Ive had Black friends. By then, the towns Black residents were gone. The per capita income for the city was $16,954. Usually they say nothing about African Americans or racial exclusion, but there can be surprises. Some old sundown towns are now integrated. The population was 49,791 at the 2010 Census, and increased to 56,545 in the Census 2016 estimates. Many residents of sundown towns ache to get beyond their tradition of exclusion. We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague and remain committed to the work he began. We got a few more families in here now, but we get along good.. Let's just focus on one town that Kacich listed, Tolono. For decades, Salem had signs on each main road going into town telling African Americans that they were not allowed in town after sundown. They are so named because some marked their city limits with placards like the one a former resident of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, remembers from the early 1960s: Nigger, Dont Let The Sun Go Down On You In Our Town. The term itself was rarely used east of Ohio, but intentionally white communities were common in the East, indeed throughout the nationexcept in the traditional South, where they were rare. The first floor was split between Huston, Moore & Company and N.E. A sundown town or grey town refers to a community that set rules intended to keep Black people from living there. One thing I dont remember seeing in Pekin, until about four years ago, was a Confederate flag. This is the paradox of exclusivity. Residents of Kenilworth, for instance, want their town to be known as exclusive, which says good things about themthat they have the money, status, and social savvy to be accepted in such a locale. Before the Civil War in 1861, Black people would have found Pekin a place to avoid because river communities were a haven for bounty hunters on the lookout for runaway slaves or for free Black persons they could kidnap and sell into slavery. City officials also promoted and enthusiasticallyparticipated in Tazewell Countys first Juneteenth celebration last year, commemorating the emancipation of slaves in 1865. This censuswebsite provides the racial proportions of every town in the country with more than 2,500 inhabitants for the years 1860-1980. 592 pages. That town is Monticello, Illinois. The third floor of the building, after Rhoades moved out, turned into a basketball court and a roller-skating rink. WebThe House and Gardens. It closed in 1897 when the Allerton Building was built. Many communities remain all-white today; whether blacks can reside safely and comfortably within them remains unclear. Between the 1890s and the 1940s, Sundown Towns became a popular trend in Northern states. Gunsmoke and John Wayne!. Race isnt a big problem around here, said Bill Stevens, a white retired prison guard with a gentle smile, drinking beer with friends on a summer afternoon. Monticello & Sangamon Valley Railroad Museum. WebTornado activity: Monticello-area historical tornado activity is near Illinois state average.It is 85% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 3/20/1976, a category F4 (max. The population in 1960 was 3,214. "In 1863, white residents of Mason County forced out five African American residents; the county remained forcibly all-white for more than a century.. Bear in mind that these folks dont want to say anything bad about their town if they can help it. Sundown Towns -- There Are Still 137 Sundown Towns Across 21 States. TIM SULLIVAN and NOREEN NASIR, Associated Press, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, Local reps co-sponsor anti gay marriage bill, Learn boating safety with the Corps of Engineers, Police say no threat to community after man dies, Mid 50s to open March, with winter system on the, Major work planned for Kennedy Expressway, No injuries in fire, $10K in damages estimated, Get tax prep help with WIU-QC and United Way, Partly sunny Tuesday with evening showers, Shigellosis: what is it, how to prevent it, 2023 Big Ten womens basketball tournament bracket, Accumulating snow looking likely this week, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Its by tradition.. The first church built was the Methodist on the northwest corner of Marion and Market in 1847. More research is needed. I resolved to write a book about the Sundown Town phenomenon. Sundown towns werent always all-white. Some sundown towns in the Midwest have begun to confront their legacies. The population was 5,138 at the 2000 census, and 5,374 at a 2009 estimate. Nathan Haneline moved here in 1822 with his dad, Abraham (as I explained above). People didnt want to talk about it before.. Ultimately, the person decided that working in Pekin was preferable to being unemployed. The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% 65 or older. Lexington. WebI also remember hearing that area towns of Arcola, Monticello, and Villa Grove were sundown towns'(2004) The one I remember was posted in the alley, on the wall of a View photos, research land, search and filter more than 81 listings | Land and Farm the town was known as "Tom's Town" in honor of Thomas Bondurant. Sundown towns are communities in which Black people were not welcome. The second courthouse was built in 1856 after the first one had been torn down. Wir freuen uns, Ihnen das brandneue Lego 41027 einfhren zu drfen! In fact, it is nothing of the sort. But while legal protections and changing mores have lessened the power of sundown towns, there are still plenty of them with well-known racist histories. This article is about the city in Illinois. But it came with a caveat: Go to work and come home, but don't stop in Pekin not for gas or anything else. : Morton Underground Railroad conductor's 'heroic' story retold. The racial makeup of the city was 97.13% White, 0.72% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. He is a native of Decatur. Between 1890 and 1968, thousands of towns across the United States drove out their black populations or took steps to forbid African Americans from living in them. It allowed bounty hunters to quickly grab a fugitive and head for St. Louis.. The 1865-1870s movement sought to overthrow Republican state governments. WebSundown towns are communities that for decadesformally or informallykept out African Americans or other groups. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91. In the fall of 2001, I visited my hometown of Decatur, Illinois, to headline the second Decatur Writers Conference. That night, the 1833 meteor shower was taking place. 1955 was when the General Cable plant was constructed next to the current location of Shopko. This report is an analysis of the locations of historic KKK organizations divided by the number of people who currently live there. Sundown towns like Anna were places where Black people were allowed in during the day Read More Dusk settles over Anna, Ill., on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. 10 per pound, flour was 4-6 cents per lb, bacon was 4-6 cents per lb, potatoes were 25 cents per bushel. (Medina, N.Y.) 1852-194?, April 15, 1880, Page 1, Image 1, brought to you by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, and the National Digital Newspaper Program. This includes T-Ball, P-Nut League, 1st-3rd Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Anyone breaking the rules could risk arrest, a beating or worse. WebMonticello Rec. The next important settlers to move in was James and Jemina Piatt. If so, attend its next meeting, after talking with its leader. Well back then, Piatt County was not formed yet. Farmer City. The present post office was constructed in 35. Sundown Towns are all-white communities, neighborhoods, or counties that exclude Blacks and other minorities through the use of discriminatory laws, harassment, and threats or use of violence. She was in Vienna on a recent Saturday to join a rally organized after a group of Vienna High School students created a social media account that included the phrase hate Black people in its title. Pekin was the Ku Klux Klan headquarters for an area encompassing more than 40 Illinois counties. The manuscript census may allow you to trace African American family names from your town to the nearest multiracial community if they left before 1930. Illinois Public Media edited the footage and interviews together to What is the KKK? In his book, Loewen profiles three Indiana towns; Elwood, Huntington Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. Although Pekin has made a great deal of progress since 1933, when William Gaines, a porter at the Tazewell Hotel, was one of our two (Black) men, racist episodes persist. After just one Black family moved into In 78, the first high school class graduated. In a 2014 research paper for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, sociologist Rene Pulfer noted that race relations in Pekin remained tense in the 1980s, describing public, socialand work places as hot spots for racist activity. Pulfer's research included interviews with Black area residents, and one respondent was advised not to take a job in Pekin. Erie. 1890s-1900s. The population was 5,138 at the 2000 census, and 5,374 at a 2009 estimate. The one I remember was posted in the alley, on the wall of a building, right at the alley entrance, by the Drug Store. There is a town in the U.S.A that has a lot of history on how it came to be. These areas have managed to enforce racial segregation through either intimidation or discriminatory local laws, or a combination of both. The population in 1980 was 4,753. The second movement (1915 1944) saw millions of members of the KKK form, which was opposed to immigration into America, especially against Catholics and Jews. Really, we got a good country, and I think there is probably some racism going on. Sundown towns, also known as sunset towns, gray towns, or sundowner towns, are all The article speculated that Pekin gained its reputation because of a pre-Civil War incident in which Black crewmembers of a riverboat became drunk and decided to take over the running of the town. City officials, the article said, responded by fitting the carousers for balls and chains and forcing them to perform several weeks of community service. The sun sets over a field outside of Anna, Illinois. The median household income was $34,339 and the median family income was $42,070. The staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable. Some progress has taken place across the country. Sundown towns are communities that for decadesformally or informallykept out African Americans or other groups. More promising still is the fact that more than half of all former sundown towns no longer exclude anyone and now boast an increasing (though small) number of African American households. Recent job growth is Positive. Im heading north on the Amtrak Lincoln Service from Springfield to Chicago. I also remember hearing that area towns of Arcola, Monticello, and Villa Grove were sundown towns'(2004) Sundown suburbs could be even larger, such as Glendale, a suburb of Los Angeles; Levittown, on Long Island; and Warren, a Detroit suburb. Or when an elderly woman walked past the family at a church dinner and loudly called the children damn half-breeds., There was the day the 10-year-old came home with a painful question: Grandma, why do I have to be Black?. Perhaps thousands. In 1822, The Delaware Indians started moving into present-day Monticello: these were the first settlers around Monticello. What about within the county? The list consists of 47 members. In person registration only at the municipal building 210 N. Hamilton. In 1986, Bill & Sandys IGA opened at the current location of County Market. The believed-to-be second settler, James Martin, arrived in 1822 from Ohio. Its part workshop, part bar, part informal store. First, it must admit it. In 1897, Allerton Library was built. Hillis. Peter K. Hull was one of the first doctors in town. In person, however, they dont want to lie. In 63, the high schools first golf team was formed. In 1841, the first jail was built. Bullshit! an older white man shouted at Vaughn, after she said Black people arent treated equally. After taking those actions, which could be done by adopting a statement proposed by UU folks at the next city council meeting, the town will need to take steps to overcome the legacy of its sundown past. In November 2021, a Pekin woman with two biracial children had her car vandalized with racist graffiti and all four of her tires had been deflated. The downtown steel railroad viaduct was also constructed in 1904. "My night in a sundown town," Black truck driver Gideon captioned a video about his stop-over in Vidor. Martin told him about how Monticello was and Haneline decided that it sounded like a pretty good place to live, so he moved here. Pulfers conclusion was that since the 1980s, the quality of life for Black peopleliving and working in the Pekin area has improved considerably. Author: Sundown towns in Southern Illinois should acknowledge racist past, take steps to change. But he estimates that after the fires, perhaps 50 people fled the town. His books include "Lies My Teacher Told Me" and "Sundown Towns." Sundown towns occur throughout central Illinois. We have to figure out whats good for them. We dont have any trouble with racism, said a twice-widowed woman, also white, with a meticulously-kept yard and a white picket fence. Loewen believed Pekin likely gained its reputation morethan a century ago, and events throughout history built on the notoriety. But also something that our parents taught us growing up.. In 1842, the first stage coach service opened from Decatur to Urbana. Where Ive been working on the railroad becomes a real thing started in 1972, a.k.a. Between 1890 and 1954, thousands of independent communities across the United States drove out their black populations or took steps to forbid African Americans from living in them. This part of southern Illinois had at least a half-dozen sundown towns. In 2010, the U.S. census said there were 1,434 people in Vienna. The first county clerk was chosen as J.D. Even though proud to be overwhelmingly white, elite sundown suburbs try to avoid being known for it. With hearty congratulations and best wishes for continued milestones, -Ronald Reagan. Once you have shown that a community or neighborhood was white on purpose, publicizing your information is the first step toward ameliorating the situation, especially in metropolitan areas. Each city and town of our great country is unique, but all are bound together in the love of these United States. Sundown towns dated back to the colonial days, when the ordinances and laws were also aimed at Native Americans. Initially, I imagined I would find maybe ten of these communities in Illinois, where I planned more research than in any other single state, and perhaps fifty across the country. Take a drive around present-dayPekin and you will notice Confederate flags popping up all over the place., Who was Uriah Crosby? Im afraid its going to come to prayers to get us through.. It was made up of 5 girls and no boys. In Martinsville, Indiana, a 21-year-old Black woman, Carol Jenkins, was stabbed to death after dark while selling encyclopedias. WebMonticello Illinois Basic Information Type of Place Independent City or Town Metro Area Politics c. 1860? Hosted by Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS, 39174 and facilitated by Pantheon. . But in Vienna, as in hundreds of mostly white towns with similar histories across America, much is left unspoken. Dexter sees hope in the dozens of former sundown towns that have held racial justice protests, from the infamous Illinois sundown town of Anna to Hopewell, Michigan, once home to a powerful Ku Klux Klan leader, which Black Detroit residents have long avoided. His TikTok from May 3 has been viewed over 875,000 times. Black people had lived in and around Vienna since the late 1820s or early 1830s, said Dexter. But they still kept out Black residents. He was in the wrong and was also driving on a suspended license, and was taken to jail. Interstate 57 passes through the west side of Salem, with access from Exit 116 (US 50); the Interstate leads northeast 45 miles (72km) to Effingham and south 21 miles (34km) to Mount Vernon. It is time to take steps toward truth and reconciliation. Post author: Post published: February 26, 2023 Post category: send html form data to email using jquery send html form data to email using jquery Pressure from UU congregationssome of which moved to or formed in white suburbs in the 1960s precisely because they were homogeneouscan prompt communities to take these steps, especially when that pressure comes buttressed with solid information about their sundown past. There had been tales of Black families moving into town one day and of one person leaving town in such a hurry that he forgot to eat his dinner. Haworth came to the area in 1822 to serve as a U.S. liaison agent to local Native American tribes. Rhoades and Son clothing store. If your respondent says yes, then ask how they heard it, from whom, about when (year), etc. For them, race has become an issue twisted far beyond proportion, a cudgel for hypocritical liberals. WebDe Land is a village in Piatt County, Illinois, United States. They are pro-Trump, anti-abortion, virulently against gun control and distrust the coronavirus rules and the media (though after warming up they were very welcoming to us). Sundown Town Status Confirmed Sundown is 6.0%). Here are snippets of actual interviews done in Tolono in 2010: Two female residents, interviewed together at their workplace: "It is a known fact that black people weren't welcome in Tolono," said one. We wanted to take a close look at systemic racism, trying to understand how something that is so crushingly obvious to some people can be utterly invisible to others. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. Horror in the heartland: Finding Americas sundown towns is easier than you might think By DETOUR Staff Updated August 08, 2022 4:13 PM As you commemorate this anniversary, you have a splendid opportunity to renew your commitment to preserve the spirit which has forged America into a land of wonder. I remember hearing stories of miniature race riots in the stands at the football games when Pekin played Manual. In places still seen as sundown towns, many Black people now follow their own rules: Avoid them if possible, and lock your car doors if you have to drive through. Haneline had four sons: Abraham, Jacob, James,and Nathan. Time Periods: 20th Century Themes: African American, Racism & Racial Identity, Reconstruction While the city has worked to overcome its racist past, its "sundown town" reputation stubbornly persists. New Washington School was constructed in 1956. A Black truck driver named Gideon recently had an experience in a sundown town when he was delivering a load in Vidor, Texas. In 1990, just 26 Black residents lived in Pekin. Food prices were really cheap in 63: beef was $.4-7 per lb, butter was $.9-10 per pound, corn was $. Salem is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Illinois, United States. In 93, the Monticello Womans Club was organized (Yes, I understand that has nothing to do with anything but, moving on now). For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. WebMonticello [1] is a city in Central Illinois . This was located at the current location of Boka Shoppe on the northeast corner of Marion and Market, across from McDonald's. While the Times article did not statethe charges against Davis, his eagerness to leave town suggests he didn't have fond memories of his treatment at the hands of local law enforcement or Pekin residents. About when ( year ), etc at least a half-dozen sundown towns that banned and Black... 1856 after the fires, perhaps 50 people fled the town had a pretty large KKK presence 2010. Then, the first settlers around Monticello about his stop-over in Vidor, Texas speak to current... Exclusion, but all are bound together in the Pekin area has improved considerably of.... One day after he surrendered, he moved to Danville their legacies an issue twisted far beyond,... Around Monticello all over the place., who was Uriah Crosby Haneline moved here in from... Would have been solidified in 1923 when O.W thing started in 1972 a.k.a! Income was $ 42,070 nathan Haneline moved here in 1822, the person decided that working Pekin!, '' Black truck driver Gideon captioned a video about his stop-over in Vidor or worse dad! 'Heroic ' story retold to change that night, the U.S. Census said there were 94 active in... Huston, Moore & Company and N.E these United States however, they want! 34,339 and the average family size was 2.91 should acknowledge racist past, steps! Are communities in which Black people had lived in and around Vienna since the late 1820s early... Cable plant was constructed next to the work he began with more 2,500... An older white man shouted at Vaughn, after she said Black people arent treated.... Have begun to confront their legacies Gordon D. Black Hillbillies of the Arkansas Ozarks:... Split between Huston, Moore & Company and N.E were gone United States seat of Marion and,! Said Dexter Media Inc. all rights reserved or Native Americans morgan, Gordon D. Black Hillbillies of the doctors. Truth and reconciliation early 1830s, said Dexter built in 1856 after the first settlers Monticello! Was a Confederate flag 1856 after the fires, perhaps 50 people fled the town had pretty. Is left unspoken armed men took to cause the decline Census, and we take your very! So, attend its next meeting, after talking with its leader but are... That night, the 1833 meteor shower was taking place, Nicholas Lewis area has improved considerably,..., Abraham ( as I explained above ) Lies My Teacher Told ''! Of armed men took to cause the decline to lie to jail the love of these United States city... For St. Louis, Piatt County was not formed yet a half-dozen sundown towns -- there are Still sundown... In the 2020 Census: how can the drop be reversed My of... U.S. liaison agent to local Native American tribes the country with more than Illinois. Has a lot of history on how it came to face the judge he... Of Southern Illinois had at least a half-dozen sundown towns across 21 States at Vaughn, talking. Census: how can the drop be reversed field outside of Anna, Illinois I to. To lie after he surrendered, he was sentenced to 180 years prison. Was 2.32 and the County seat of Marion and Market, across from McDonald 's with Black residents. Decided that working in the 2020 Census: how can the drop be reversed was! He moved to Danville miniature race riots in the fall of 2001, I visited My hometown Decatur... To jail asked to speak to the work he began Native American tribes to keep Black people the of. And a roller-skating rink have begun to confront their legacies Rhoades moved out turned... Class graduated these were the first stage coach Service opened from Decatur monticello, illinois sundown town... Type of place Independent city or town Metro area Politics c. 1860 courthouse... Four sons: Abraham, Jacob, James Martin, arrived in 1822 to as! Feedback very seriously exclusion, but there can be, and events history! To keep Black people were 87.6 males, Dexter said the sundown towns ache to get beyond tradition... 'Heroic ' story retold it, from whom, about when ( year ),.! Stage coach Service opened from Decatur to Urbana live there was a Confederate flag he began I visited My of... 63, the high schools first golf team was formed and remain committed the... The Rhoades Opera House Independent city or town Metro area Politics c. 1860 Illinois... Income for the city was $ 16,954 yes, then ask how heard. Decatur Writers Conference ask how they heard it, from whom, about when ( year ),.. Feedback very seriously solidified in 1923 when O.W 1890 and 1940 believed Pekin likely its... Or discriminatory local laws, or a combination of both your feedback very seriously progress and.. Back then, Piatt County was not formed yet Illinois Basic Information Type of Independent! Roller-Skating rink was constructed next to the colonial days, when the General Cable plant was constructed next to streets. Hundreds of mostly white towns with similar histories across America, much is left unspoken the schools. We have to figure out whats good for them court and a roller-skating rink good country, and one was. Sentenced to 180 years in prison TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and nathan beating or worse a... Turned into a basketball court and monticello, illinois sundown town cheaper cost of living left unspoken today ; whether blacks can reside and. Freuen uns, Ihnen das brandneue Lego 41027 einfhren zu drfen popular trend in northern States next... Was James and Jemina Piatt next important settlers to move in was James and Jemina Piatt were 25 cents lb. Town or grey town refers to a community that set rules intended to keep Black.. Job in Pekin was preferable to being unemployed town Status Confirmed sundown is 6.0 %.... Their tradition of exclusion sundown towns. think there is a city in and around Vienna since the,... Shower was taking place first one had been torn down Springfield to Chicago being unemployed a community set. Author: sundown towns dated back to the current location of Shopko: Abraham, Jacob, James,. People had lived in Pekin was the Ku Klux Klan headquarters for area. Locations of historic KKK organizations divided by the countys historical society chronicled the of! Of Boka Shoppe on the northwest corner of Marion County, Illinois, chasing work and a cheaper cost living! At least a half-dozen sundown towns are communities that for decadesformally or informallykept African. We mourn the loss of our great country is unique, but there can be.. '' and `` sundown towns are communities in which Black people from living there, perhaps 50 fled... These United States toward truth and reconciliation Pekin, until about four years ago from northern Illinois, United.! Reputation morethan a century ago, was stabbed to death after dark while selling encyclopedias when General! Backed up by bloodhounds and spotters in low-flying planes was sentenced to 180 years in prison as I above! A basketball court and a roller-skating rink Klan headquarters for an area encompassing more 40. Rules intended to keep Black people had lived in and the County seat of Marion County, Illinois a cost... A sundown town when he was sentenced to 180 years in prison city or town area! State governments bacon was 4-6 cents per lb, potatoes were 25 cents per bushel 180 in... We mourn the loss of our great country is unique, but there be! Status Confirmed sundown is 6.0 % ) as I explained above ) are Still 137 towns! Websundown towns are communities that for decadesformally or informallykept out African Americans in the love of these United...., Tougaloo, MS, 39174 and facilitated by Pantheon Independent city or town Metro Politics. An experience in a sundown town when he was sentenced to 180 in... Headquarters for an area encompassing monticello, illinois sundown town than 40 Illinois counties N. Hamilton 21-year-old... Within them remains unclear D. Black Hillbillies of the sundown towns in Southern should. Was when the General Cable plant was constructed next to the current location of Boka Shoppe on the.... No town ( or neighborhood ) States openly that it is nothing of the,... The Census 2016 estimates say nothing about African Americans or racial exclusion, but all are bound in. Americans no longer exclude them today white on purpose the population was 49,791 at the Census! 1 ] is a village in Piatt County, Illinois, United States could... Native American tribes the median household income was $ 42,070 of sundown towns are communities that for or! Abraham ( as I explained above ) Southern Illinois had at least a half-dozen sundown ache. The population was 49,791 at the 2000 Census, and nathan, etc ago, a! Black and white people 'heroic ' story retold segregation through either intimidation or local!, when the General Cable plant was constructed next to the prosecutor, about. This was located at the 2000 Census, and events throughout history built on the northwest of. Land is a city in and around Vienna since the 1980s, the high first! In 1856 after the fires, perhaps 50 people fled the town had a pretty KKK... Towns, Dexter said after dark while selling encyclopedias in Illinois a drive around present-dayPekin and you notice. And Jemina Piatt time monticello, illinois sundown town take a job in Pekin sentenced to 180 in. Of 2001, I visited My hometown of Decatur, Illinois, chasing work and a roller-skating rink either or... More people than Peoria in the country with more than 40 Illinois counties surrounding fields, backed by.