The Hidden History Of Exclusion: 10 North Carolina Sundown Towns And Their Lingering Shadow Today

The legacy of racial segregation in North Carolina is far more complex and violent than many realize, extending beyond the well-known Jim Crow laws into a hidden history of exclusionary communities known as "sundown towns." As of late December 2025, new research continues to shed light on these all-white municipalities, revealing how they actively prevented Black Americans and other minorities from residing or even remaining after dark. This practice, enforced through intimidation, violence, and sometimes official ordinances, has left a profound and measurable impact on the state's demographics and economic landscape today.

The term "sundown town" is not merely a historical footnote; it describes a deliberate, systemic form of racial cleansing that shaped the geography of race in the United States, and North Carolina was no exception. By examining the towns and counties with documented or suspected sundown histories, we gain a crucial understanding of the root causes of contemporary racial disparities in the Tar Heel State.

The Mechanism of Exclusion: How North Carolina Became a State of Sundown Towns

A sundown town is defined by sociologist James Loewen, author of *Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism*, as any community that was intentionally all-white, or became so, by driving out or keeping out non-whites, usually Black Americans, after the Civil War. Unlike the de jure segregation of the Jim Crow South, which mandated separate public facilities, sundown towns enforced a policy of *residential exclusion* often through de facto means like terror, threats, or community consensus.

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In North Carolina, the mechanism of exclusion often involved a combination of factors. Following the Reconstruction era, racial violence, including lynchings, became a powerful tool to intimidate and displace Black populations. Economic factors also played a role, as white residents sought to monopolize jobs and land ownership, particularly in Western North Carolina.

The exclusionary practices were not always codified laws, but rather a powerful, unspoken understanding. Black residents who worked in these towns during the day, such as domestic workers or laborers at industrial sites like the Champion paper mill in Canton, knew they had to be gone by nightfall. This system ensured that Black families could not build generational wealth through homeownership in these areas, creating a pervasive and enduring economic disadvantage.

Key Counties and Towns with Sundown Histories

While the full list is still being compiled and verified by researchers, several North Carolina communities have been identified as confirmed or probable sundown towns. Their histories reveal a pattern of violence and deliberate racial cleansing that has only recently begun to be officially acknowledged.

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• Carrboro (Orange County): This town, near Chapel Hill, has been explicitly described as a "sundown town" by its first Black mayor, suggesting a strong local memory of the practice. The town’s history of "candy-coated racism" in the Chapel Hill area contrasts sharply with the outright danger Black people faced in Carrboro after dark.
• Canton (Haywood County): Historical accounts indicate that Black people were not allowed to stay overnight in Canton, which was tied to the labor practices of local industry.
• Mitchell County: This county has been cited in historical documents as a place where a Black person was "not allowed to stay over night." Local commissioners have recently addressed the "sundown law allegation," indicating an ongoing public discussion about its history.
• Madison County: Similar to Mitchell County, Madison County is noted in historical records as an area where Black people were prohibited from staying after sunset.
• Salisbury (Rowan County): While its status is debated, Salisbury is mentioned in recent research as retaining the "shadow" of sundown towns. This history is underscored by the 1906 lynching of three Black men, an act of violence that often preceded or solidified a town’s exclusionary status.
• Spruce Pine: Mentioned in research as a town that violently drove out its Black population.
• Pinebluff and Southern Pines (Moore County): Both towns are listed in the category of suspected sundown towns in North Carolina.
• Rosman (Transylvania County): Identified in recent analyses as a town whose forced exclusion of Black people contributed to current racial disparities.

The Lingering Shadow: Contemporary Impact and Acknowledgment

The most compelling and unique aspect of the sundown town phenomenon is its measurable impact on modern-day North Carolina. The historical exclusion of Black families from settling in these towns directly contributed to the massive racial wealth gap that persists across the state and the nation.

The inability to own property in these desirable, often resource-rich areas meant Black families could not accumulate housing equity, which is the single largest component of wealth for most American families. Contemporary studies have drawn a direct line between the historical presence of sundown towns and current lower diversity levels, greater Black-White economic inequality, and even disparities in public health outcomes, such as COVID-19 risk.

Current Efforts Toward Reconciliation and Recognition

In a powerful sign of a shift toward historical accountability, several North Carolina communities are beginning to publicly acknowledge and renounce their segregationist past. This is a crucial step in racial reconciliation and addressing the enduring effects of structural racism.

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One of the most significant recent actions occurred in Salisbury, North Carolina. In January 2019, the Salisbury City Council passed a resolution to formally renounce its past racial injustices, including recognizing the ways it had perpetuated a system of exclusion. This resolution is a model for other communities seeking to confront their history.

In Carrboro, the discussion about its sundown past continues to be part of the larger conversation about racial justice and town history, often brought up in discussions about the town's namesake and historical figures. These public acknowledgments are vital because, for decades, the history of sundown towns remained largely "untold, unmarked and unremembered," allowing the historical trauma and economic disparities to fester.

The ongoing research by scholars like James Loewen and local historians is essential for uncovering the full truth. By documenting the experiences of those who were forced to leave or bypass these communities, North Carolina can finally begin to address the intergenerational poverty and residential segregation that are the direct consequences of its hidden sundown town history. The ultimate goal is not just to remember, but to dismantle the systems of inequality that the "sundown" practices were designed to create and sustain.