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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.

Strasburg

Ohio

Basic Information

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

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Probable
Was there an ordinance?
Don't Know
Sign?
Don’t Know
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
1940
1950 1368 0
1960 1687 0
1970
1980
1990 1995 0
2000
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Unknown

Main Ethnic Group(s)

  • German Protestant
  • German Catholic

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

Testimony of a former resident:
“I’m from a small town in east central Ohio called Strasburg. It’s in Tuscarawas County, population approximately 2,000. Until recently (sometime during the 1990s), the town was most definitely all white. I am not aware of any “official” policies that contributed to it, but I know that the town has never been non white friendly. The recent influx of latino migrant workers and some African Americans has caused quite a stir amongst long standing white townsfolk. There have been no major race related incidents to my knowledge, but there does exist an undercurrent of tension.
Also, there are quite possibly numerous other towns in Tuscarawas County and surrounding counties that, historically, have been all white. The area was originally settled primarily by Swiss, Amish, German, and Italian immigrants. Even today, the counties of Tuscarawas, Holmes, and Wayne are considered “Amish country”–home to the largest concentration of Amish and Mennonites in the world, and now a major tourist attraction.
In particular, the town of Berlin in Holmes County (pronounced BER lin, with the emphasis on the first syllable!) is somewhat nationally recognized because it once had a succesful Black basketball coach at the high school (Highland High School)–an all white school comprised of many Mennonite students that is renowned for its BB program. His story was covered nationally because he was so well known and liked in the community, then became ill with cancer and died at a young age (a few years back). His story was covered in Sports Illustrated, and there is a movie being done, as well, by a famous film producer (someone like Jerry Bruckheimer or Brian Glazer).