Home » Illinois » Lewistown

James W. Loewen (1942-2021)

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

Lewistown

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?
Probable
Was there an ordinance?
Yes, Strong Oral Tradition
Sign?
Yes, Strong Oral Tradition
Year of Greatest Interest
Still Sundown?
Probably

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 2249 0
1940 2943 0
1950 2630 2
1960 2603 2
1970 2706 0
1980
1990
2000 2522 2
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

Main Ethnic Group(s)

Group(s) Excluded

Comments

During WWII, the town opened up to Black Soldiers that were stationed there. This appeared to be the exception and not the rule. Lewistown was an all white town up until the 1940’s.

“At a football game, there were flyers being passed around promoting an upcoming KKK rally at a local farm. […] I would have imagined this being around the year 2000.” -A story told second hand about a student teacher experience in the town, email, March 2012