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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.

Chillicothe

Illinois

Basic Information

Type of Place
Independent City or Town
Metro Area
Politics c. 1860?
Unions, Organized Labor?

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Surely
Was there an ordinance?
Yes, Strong Oral Tradition
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
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000 5996 5840 13
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

Main Ethnic Group(s)

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

HS team is “Gray Ghosts,” logo for which looks like a Klan figure. Others claim that the name is in reference to a Confederate General-turned-KKK grand wizard whose nickname was Grey Ghost.

In 1952 or 3 the Harlem Globetrotters came to play an exhibition game in our high school gym. We were all crazy about the Globetrotters, at the height of their fame then, and the citizens of Chillicothe filled the gym. Only thing is, the Globetrotters couldn’t stay the night; had to move on before dark.

Up until about the late 80s or early 90s, there was a city ordnance of some sort which prohibited blacks from being in town before sunup and after sundown.