Home » Illinois » New Lenox

James W. Loewen (1942-2021)

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

New Lenox

Illinois

Basic Information

Type of Place
Suburb
Metro Area
W. Chicago
Politics c. 1860?
Unions, Organized Labor?

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Was there an ordinance?
Don't Know
Sign?
Don’t Know
Year of Greatest Interest
Still Sundown?
Surely Not

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 17771 54 15
2010 24394 165 38
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Violent ExpulsionPolice or Other Official Action
  • Private Bad Behavior
  • Reputation

Main Ethnic Group(s)

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

“I remember an incident back in the late forties where a out of town realtor had came to town and bought a house for a black family….when word got out about 80 % of the people in town met at the property one evening and they burned it down.” Longtime resident of the town; email, 2005

A resident of the town in the 40’s and 50’s said, “Might not technically fit the “sundown” description because there wasn’t a siren or curfew for blacks….they weren’t welcome in town at any time.” email, 2005

A resident of nearby Joliet said “Many of the
residents of New Lenox are openly racist, claiming to be disgusted and
appalled when black children from Joliet use their parks and other
public facilities, and the scant few non-white individuals whom live
there have complained of constant police harassment.” email, 2011