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?
- Possible
- Was there an ordinance?
- Sign?
- Year of Greatest Interest
- Still Sundown?
Census Information
| Total | White | Black | Asian | Native | Hispanic | Other | BHshld | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | ||||||||
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| 2020 |
Method of Exclusion
Main Ethnic Group(s)
Group(s) Excluded
- Black
Comments
March 2012 email (the last names have been omitted): “Coopersville Michigan was an all white town in 1955 when my husband’s grandparents, Elizabeth and Roscoe… bought a house at 249 East St. Both Elizabeth and Roscoe worked in a factory and were regular in their church attendance. When they attempted to become members of a local church they were informed by the Pastor that while their attendance was welcomed, their membership was not. They left and joined another local assembly. My husband’s grandparents often talked about how members of the community would come by offering to by their home as a means of getting them to leave town.
When my husband’s family , Joyce and Samuel… purchased a home in Coopersville a few blocks away his grandparents, again members of the community made offers to purchase the home. When these efforts failed, The family home was condemned and the family was told a local park was slated to be built at the location of the home. The family moved to Grand Rapids. The house was demolish, but to this day the lot remains empty.
Coopersville is much different today. Elizabeth (Betty)… lived in that very house until she died when she was over 90 years old. In the later years of her life, she was a well respected and cherished member of the community and had very friendly multi-generational relationships with many of her fellow Coopersville residents. The Mayor and Chief of Police would respond to any inquiry or concern she had and would make sure it was addressed immediately. At the end of her life, with her family miles away, members of her community stayed round the clock caring for her and comforting her in her last moments.
What we have learned from this experience is that given enough time and effort, even hearts and towns can change.”