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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.

Ashland

Oregon

Basic Information

Type of Place
Independent City or Town
Metro Area
Politics c. 1860?
Slightly Democratic
Unions, Organized Labor?
Don’t Know

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Probable
Was there an ordinance?
Perhaps, Some Oral Evidence
Sign?
Perhaps, Some Oral Evidence
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 4544 2
1940 4744 0
1950 7739 3
1960 9119 2
1970 12342
1980
1990 16234 81
2000 19522 17873 118 365 199
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Threat of Violence
  • Reputation

Main Ethnic Group(s)

  • Unknown

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

A former Ashland resident writes:
“Most think that Ashland was such a town (as well as Medford). Here’s a story about Ashland. I worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival there. In the 1950’s, they hired their first Black actress, and she had to be escorted as she traveled to and from the theatre for safety.”

A former Ashland resident writes:
%u201CMy parents moved to Ashland in 1949. At that time there was a city ordinance prohibiting non whites from living there. I believe there was even a sign at the city limits stating that only whites could live there.%u201D