Sundown towns, also known as sunset towns or gray towns, refer to communities in the United States that enforced racial [[segregation]] by requiring non-white individuals to leave the town by sundown. These towns excluded non-white residents, particularly African Americans, through a combination of local laws, ordinances, social pressure, and sometimes violence. The term "sundown town" stems from the signs that some of these towns posted at their borders, warning non-white people to leave before sundown. The practice of sundown towns emerged primarily between the 1890s and 1960s, although some instances date back to the [[Reconstruction]] era following the [[Civil War]]. Sundown towns were prevalent across the United States, but they were particularly concentrated in the Midwest and the Great Plains regions. While the practice was more common in small towns and rural areas, some larger cities and suburban areas also participated in these exclusionary practices. Sundown towns enforced racial segregation through various methods, including: 1. **Legal measures**: Some towns adopted ordinances and regulations explicitly barring non-white individuals from residing within their boundaries or owning property. 2. **Violence and intimidation**: In some cases, non-white individuals were threatened, harassed, or physically assaulted to discourage them from settling in sundown towns. 3. **Social pressure**: White residents would often ostracize non-white individuals, making it difficult for them to find jobs, housing, or social support in the community. 4. **De facto segregation**: Although not formally enforced through legal means, some communities maintained racial [[segregation]] through unwritten rules and social norms. The Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, along with federal legislation such as the [[Civil Rights Act]] of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, helped dismantle many of the practices associated with sundown towns. However, the legacy of these exclusionary policies continues to impact racial and socioeconomic disparities in the United States. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the history of sundown towns and their impact on American society. Scholars, activists, and community leaders are working to document this history and promote dialogue about the implications of this past on current racial and social dynamics.