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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.

Nocona

Texas

Basic Information

Type of Place
Don’t Know
Metro Area
Politics c. 1860?
Unions, Organized Labor?

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Was there an ordinance?
Sign?
Perhaps, Some Oral Evidence
Year of Greatest Interest
Still Sundown?

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 2352 0
1940 2605 0
1950 3022 0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000 3,198 2,993 8
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Threat of Violence
  • Police or Other Official Action
  • Reputation

Main Ethnic Group(s)

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

Sign reported to say: “Niggers, don’t let the sun set on your ass in this town.” (Or something very close to that.) There was also a path that went around the town and a large arrow painted on the offensive sign, pointing to the path.

There are short references to an “expulsion” from Nocona at the Bowie library.

A former resident remembers signs in the 1950s-1960s at the entrance of Montague County announcing, “Black man, don’t let the sun set on you in Montague County.” His parents also recall considerable violence in the 1920s and an expulsion occurred in Montague County afterwards. Nocona is located in Montague County.