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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.

Valley Stream

New York

Basic Information

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

Sundown Town Status

Sundown Town in the Past?
Possible
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 33946 149
2000 36368 2714
2010
2020

Method of Exclusion

  • Threat of Violence
  • Private Bad Behavior

Main Ethnic Group(s)

  • Unknown

Group(s) Excluded

  • Black

Comments

From Michael Winerip, “Steering Blacks Around an Island of White Homes,” NY Times, 12/15/1987:
Realtors are not always the bad guys. In Valley Stream, NY, some realtors did try to show blacks homes, in the mid-1980s. White residents and other realtors threatened them. “‘They have threatened to throw a bomb in the window,’ Harold Klarnet, owner of Town House Realty, testified. ‘This is Valley Stream.'” Elliot Klarnet, a broker and the owner’s son, called VS “‘Probably one of the most biased communities in the nation.'”
The Klarnets had sold real estate in Queens, had black salespeople, “and that this was why they were resented when they moved. Harold Klarnet described taking blacks to see a home here. ‘The neighbors were all out, sunning themselves and making remarks,’ he said. ‘Very, very forward.'”
The state’s lawyer asked, “‘Do you feel it is your duty to inform prospective black purchasers to be aware of Valley Stream?’
‘If there is a potential situation, yes,’ Mr. Klarnet said. ‘I had a door slammed in my face some times.'”
“Q. Have you ever sold a house in Valley Stream to a black?
A: I tried.”

1990: 33,946 total pop.; 149 blacks. Shows that even with a few blacks, suburbs still maintain pretty sundown policies.
2000: 36,368 total pop.; 2714 blacks.