Home » Kansas » Colby

James W. Loewen (1942-2021)

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

Colby

Kansas

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?
Possible
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 2153 2
1940
1950 3859 1
1960 4210 0
1970
1980
1990 5396 28
2000
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Unknown

Main Ethnic Group(s)

  • Unknown

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

About Town: Colby
State: KS
Message: I graduated from Colby Community High School in 1959. I am sure there were no signs at the city limits stating that blacks (negroes) were not allowed to stay overnight.

I do remember that Marion Anderson was scheduled to sing in Colby with the Community Concert series, but canceled when she learned she would not be allowed to stay overnight.

I also recall that Colby was a meal stop for the Greyhound bus. Blacks were allowed to come into the restaurant and order, but somehow never got their food before it was time for the bus to leave.

We saw occasional Hispanics during harvest time — who were working with custom-cutting crews, but I think they stayed outside the city limits.