DUNCAN, Ariz. - Evacuation orders for a small eastern Arizona town have been lifted after heavy rain overflowed the Gila River, spilling water into portions of the area. Uncovering the distribution of 'sundown towns' - Mapbox Duncan is a town in Greenlee County, Arizona, United States. Duncan is located in southern Greenlee County at 324333N 109552W / 32.72583N 109.09778W / 32.72583; -109.09778 (32.725828, -109.097686). Town . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males. Between 1890 and 1954, thousands of independent communities across the United . At that time, American soldiers fought for human rights overseas, but the troops were still segregated at home. Five miles from our border with New Mexico, Duncan began in the late 1800s as Purdy, a way station for ore trains on the route from nearby Clifton to Silver City, New Mexico. Your email address will not be published. No other road has captured the imagination and the essence of the American Dream quite like Route 66. Being a Sundown Town meant for decades, Blacks and other groups were prevented from being out at night. For black Americans who hit the road with a copy of the Green Book, a guide expressly created to keep them safe in a wildly perilous landscape, they surely already understood that the hopeful Mark Twain quote gracing almost every Green Book coverTravel is fatal to prejudicewas purely aspirational. Someone from Petticoat Junction could walk in at any moment. In Safford there are a lot of parks. Cliff dwellers, conquistadors, Apache warriors, mountain men, westering immigrants each in their time has traveled its banks. Duncan is at the juncture of the Gila River and the Arizona-New Mexico state border. Learn More >. Jonathan Majors stars in the new HBO series, "Lovecraft Country," which has been prompting discussions about so-called sundown towns in the U.S. (Mary Mathis for the Washington Post via Getty Images) In the mid-19th century, the Hosted by Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS, 39174 and facilitated by Pantheon. In the town, the population was spread out, with 35.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. Called "Purdy" in the Post Office register of 1883, it was founded by Messrs. Purdy and Bachelor as a way Conflicts between the Apaches and the advancing Anglo settlers resulted in a war known as the Apache Wars. Black people who were caught in these sundown towns often faced threats of violence if they hadn't made their way to the Detroit border by sundown. Sundown Towns -- 137 Sundown Towns Across 21 States -- Are The Litmus Test of America's Transformation https: . Jim McPherson, Arizona Preservation Foundation board president, has stated the following: It is crucial that residents, private interests, and government officials act now to save these elements of our cultural heritage before it is too late. The spot where Michel Brown bled out in the street for four hours in Ferguson, Missouri, is just a couple of miles from the original Route 66. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 713. Safford is a mining town in Eastern Arizona. Route 66 epitomized Americanafor white people. Later, Arizona Copper Co. money built a narrow-gauge railway from Clifton all the way to Lordsburg, New Mexico, and a grateful population moved from the northern bank of the river to the southern bank to accommodate the new railway. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year. Pearl Bailey ultimately bought the property in 1955 but sold it in the mid-1960s. As the Equal Justice Initiatives Bryan Stevenson points out: Civil rights in America is too often seen as a three-day carnival: On day one, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. sundown. Well, first that Flagstaff doesn't make any of the pre-World War II editions. Was Your Town a Sundown Town? | UU World Magazine In 1883, a post office was established in Purdy. The site of contemporary Duncan had its origin sometime in the 1870s. But, yes Prescott area is one of the whitest areas in this state. In 2001, local citizens formed the Duncan Pride Society and began restoring and re-purposing some of the old buildings. Oklahoma theater stages play about the history of racist sundown towns African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Racial Conflict - Segregation/Integration, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/the-roots-of-route-66/506255/, https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/sundown-towns-3658/, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Males had a median income of $32,232 versus $18,333 for females. No Negroes. The humiliation of being shut out of not only public spaces but entire towns was bad enough, but for black people, there were always plenty of even bleaker fearsevery stop was a potential existential danger. Duncan was founded in the mid 19th century, and the land was added to the United States as a part of the Mexican Cession. Whats it like to be woken up by a bear while camping? Although the term most often refers to the forced exclusion of Blacks, the history of sundown towns also includes prohibitions against Jews, Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and other minority groups. "Sundown suburbs" could be even larger, such as Glendale, a suburb of Los Angeles; Levittown, on Long Island; and Warren, a Detroit suburb. Called Purdy in the Post Office register of 1883, it was founded by Messrs. Purdy and Bachelor as a way station on an ore haulage line that linked the railhead in Clifton with Silver City, New Mexico. Many of the buildings along Route 66 are physical evidence of racial discrimination, providing a rich opportunity to reexamine Americas story of segregation, black migration, and the rise of the black leisure class. In Safford, the summers are sweltering and partly cloudy and the winters are cold, dry, and mostly clear. Come and enjoy our town, whether for an evening or a lifetime. Your email address will not be published. With more hope than resources, Dust Bowl migrants and others escaping poverty caused by the Great Depression could motor west on Route 66 in search of a better life. It was one of the few U.S. highways laid out diagonally, and it cut across the country like a shortcut to freedom. In 2018 the estimated population was 789. Looking at the products on wide shelves feels like I stepped into one of my childhood Golden Books, one where the artist didnt want to get in trouble for using real brand names. Birding and Wildlife in Duncan and Greenlee County, Arizona For Arizona Route 66 towns and cities, Kingman first appears in the Green Book in 1956, and three places in Flagstaff appear in the 1957 edition: The Park Plaza Motel, the Nackard Inn and El Rancho Motel- which populate the Green Book to the end of its production run. It is located behind the town's fire department and across the street from Minden Park. Laws and policies that enforced racial exclusion have largely disappeared, but de facto sundown towns existed into the 1980s, and some may still be in evidence today. The farther west anyone traveled, the fewer services were availablefor white people and especially for black people. 928-381-1881. Its all so un-self-conscious that I want to pat the buildings as I pass. Cliftons closed for a few years starting in 2011 to undergo a $10 million renovation before reopening last year. The racial makeup of the town was 81.8% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 13.6% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Even Coca-Cola machines had White Customers Only printed on them. That said, there are places like Vidor Texas that still are, if unofficially. The town of Duncan in southeastern Arizona is under "mass evacuation" after the Gila River overflowed on Monday, reaching a "major flood stage" which . The siren that sounds every day at noon and 5 p.m. in Minden, Nevada is associated with the town's discriminatory history excluding Native Americans. Duncan receded then into a quiet farming and I live in Los Angeles, California and love camping. July 3, 1919: The Battle of Brewery Gulch - Zinn Education Project Duncan is a small farming town 5 miles west of the New Mexico border on Hwy 70 (Old West Highway). station on an ore haulage line that linked the railhead in Clifton with Silver City, New Mexico. And it is too early to celebrate the nations racial tolerance when ongoing racism and xenophobia is camouflaged under the banner of patriotism. As I paged through all the kitschy advertising of postwar suburban white families in Airstream Trailers and chrome-finned Chevys getting their kicks at campy Americana landmarks, I wondered: Where are the black people? This is a list, which includes a photographic gallery, of some of the remaining historic buildings, houses, and other structures in the mining town of Duncan, which is located in Greenlee County, Arizona. Of course, the Civil Rights Act did not fix racism, and discrimination persisted. But Americans should not be so quick to pat themselves on the backs just because, nowadays, black people can drive U.S. highways mostly without incident. Ones chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 28. Duncan is in the Gila River valley, four miles (6km) west of the ArizonaNew Mexico border. News Arizona Flash Floods Flooding Weather. (There were Green Book businesses in other parts of Chicagobut not on the Road of Dreams.) Having moved from Las Vegas to Duncan, Hilda doesnt mention Sandra Day OConnor, the Supreme Court justice who put this town on the map by writing about growing up on her nearby ranch. With a crime rate of 36 per one thousand residents, Safford has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. Unheard of by many, loved by everyone who calls it home. Businesses have earnest, hardworking signage. Glendale has become the first city in California and the third in the nation to pass a resolution apologizing for its history as a . "Arizona is an ideal place for developing heat- and drought- tolerant varieties because of its high daily maximum temperature and low rainfall from late spring to early fall when rice can be planted.". Town Hall It was one of the nations most devastating acts of terrorism against African Americans. The methods for enforcing such racial segregation ranged . And after discovering the Green Book, I was never able to look at Americas favorite highway the same way againthe way those other tour guides seem to. It prospered right into the 1970s, when the new Interstate 10 to the south diverted commercial traffic, contributing to a rising trucking industry. Sundown towns once drove out people of color or prohibited them from living within city limits. Ed Gordon discusses the historical significance of so-called "sundown towns," some of which are now promoting inclusiveness. But it was also the home of U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen, whose support helped ensure the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. High Desert RV Park, High Street, 928-359-3030 Nine Rail RV Camp, Highway 75, 928-359-9107 Stephens RV Park, Madison Street off Highway 70, 928-359-2113. Among the society's accomplishments is the clean-ups and painting of scenes on most of the old buildings.[14]. Greyhound Lines serves Duncan on its PhoenixEl Paso via Globe route. Minden's "sundowner" siren under scrutiny again Next door, a half-moon sign announces that the turquoise front surrounded by cream-colored, textured brick houses the Bank of Duncan, established in 1908. California cities grapple with racist history of sundown towns The Safe Havens and No-Go Zones for 20th-Century Black American Shes been cutting her own meat in her two-room enterprise for 14 years. The Duncan Valley Rural Fire District declared the "mass evacuation of flood prone areas in Duncan" early Monday, listing more than a dozen streets in the 712-person town as subject to the order . For black soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood near Rolla, Missouri, for example, their best option for a little R&R was a full 80 miles away: Grahams Rib Station in Springfield, Missouri, an integrated local landmark that opened in 1932 and was owned by an African American couple, James and Zelma Graham. Lying five miles from the New Mexico border, in the deep southeastern corner of Greenlee County, Duncan seems a world away from the wild mountains surrounding it. It was not uncommon for Black motorists passing through these communities to be followed by police or local residents to the city limits. After being stopped by a sheriff while on vacation with his family, the sheriff asked Rons dad where he got the car. Where is duncan arizona? - Whip O Will Campground His father had a good job with the railroad and owned a nice car. The term meant that if you were not white you had to be out of the town by nightfall or suffer the consequences. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Greenwood was an unusually vibrant community of successful black entrepreneurs, doctors, and lawyers. Published Jul 25, 2022 8:52 pm Last updated Jul 25, 2022 8:52 pm. The society has taken it upon themselves the task of restoring many of them. EASTERN ARIZONA How do I convince my parents that I dont want to go camping? By 1962, the Green Book reached a circulation of 2 million people. My friend Julie and I walk into Hildas Kitchen & Meat Market, where Hilda Goekings smile is as wide as a rainbow. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year. A rustic service station with a genuinely old truck would invite them to clamber over it until their mothers call them home to supper. Agriculture has been a mainstay of the Safford and Graham County economy, with cotton as the principal commodity and remaining acreage used for hay and small grains. How to start ultralight backpacking frugally? It is 2,389 feet above sea level. Either way, it was painfully obvious to me that there was a problem. In extreme cases, hostility toward African Americans resulted in extrajudicial killing. Town Hall 506 SE Old West Hwy Duncan, Arizona 85534. The Gila River crested at a record-breaking 30.28 feet on Sunday night near Virden, New Mexico, a town just 7 miles from Duncan, Arizona. Plus, the desolation of Route 66s stretches left black motorists particularly exposed. Many families live in Safford and residents tend to lean conservative. Historians have found that most sundown towns deliberately hid the means by which they became and remained all-white. The town limits are on both sides of the Gila, but the primary portion of the town and the entire downtown area lie on the south side of the river. But, after a young black man was wrongfully accused of assaulting a white woman, an angry lynch mob broke out. AP Road Trip: Racial tensions in America's 'sundown towns' James Loewen, a historian who spent years studying sundown towns, found them in the suburbs of Detroit, New York City and Chicago. Nature & Wildlife Areas, Scenic Walking Areas. 506 SE Old West Hwy He also published his findings in his book Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. What are 'sundown towns'? Historically all-white towns in - Yahoo Eventually the Apaches, who were hunters, gatherers, and raiders, would become the dominant native-American force. Sadly, today theres no physical evidence that Murrays Dude Ranch ever existed. Tempe Arizona was one as well, but has been integrated since the 60s. Sundown town | Meaning & History | Britannica Duncan is in the Gila River valley, four miles (6 km) west of the Arizona-New Mexico border. You can also look for cities 4 hours from Duncan, SC (or 3 hours or 2 hours or 1 hour) or just search in general for all of the cities close to Duncan, SC. The population density was 317.6 inhabitants per square mile (122.6/km2). The community is home for members of both the Akimel Oodham (Pima) and the Pee-Posh (Maricopa) tribes. the river and renamed it "Duncan", after Duncan Smith, the managing director of the Arizona Copper Company. This lost gem was billed as The Only Negro Dude Ranch in the Worldwhich it very likely was. Duncan - History and Social Justice Home Arizona Duncan James W. Loewen (1942-2021) We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague and remain committed to the work he began. Arizona Highways 2039 W Lewis Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009 602.712.2200. The town of Duncan was actually established in 1883 with the coming of the railroad, but the early settlement here was started in the 1870s along the Gila River on an important stage & freight route. But the current passion for gentrification and suburban sprawl is expunging the past: Most Green Book properties have been razed and many more are slated for demolition. In Town Job Shift Day (M-F) Approx 7:30am - 2:30pm Job Category Education ***Base rate of pay starting at $13.85-15.00/hour and an additional lump sum payment up to $80.50 per pay period Current Opening: Duncan Head Start, 0001 McGrath Ave., Duncan, AZ 85534, 1 opening, 7 hours per day, M- F, Approximately 7:30am - 2:30pm, mid July thru mid May As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 696. Do you put hand warmers for camping inside a camping tent? The Spanish-Pueblo Revival style of the building features a conference room with seven 20-foot murals painted by a Zuni artist. Thus the new settlement was named Purdy. Third, the Simpson Hotel B&B is located here. Sundown towns - racism in Tempe/Scottsdale Arizona 2021 Sundown Towns Are Still A Problem For Black Drivers - BuzzFeed News According archeologists the specimens of pottery and stone implements found in the area of Greenlee County, where the town of Duncan is located indicate that the members of the Anasazi were among the first people to inhabit the region. Interestingly, the hotel website, simpsonhotel.com also has the best information on visiting the surrounding area. The Duncan Pride Society has identified various structures as significantly historical. While you might not find big-town amenities here, you will discover. Black Voices: Sundown towns still exist in 2022 Ive estimated that nearly 75 percent of Green Book sites have been demolished or radically modified, and the majority that remain have fallen into disrepair, so its crucial to preserve whatever sites are left. In the early 20th century, Bisbee was a mining town . For black folks, it meant encountering fresh violence and the ghosts of racial terrorism already haunting the Mother Road. [5][6][1][2][3][4] Fray Marcos de Niza, who was a notable Spanish missionary, also passed through the area with the intention of converting the natives to Catholicism. Duncan is a small farming town 5 miles west of the New Mexico border on Hwy 70 (Old West Highway). And in 2020, a group called the Defund San Antonio Police Department Coalition issued a travel warning for San Antonio, labeling the city as a sundown town. Duncan receded then into a quiet farming and ranching town for several decades, and its downtown slowly disintegrated. A sundown town is not just a place where something racist happened. [7], The territory that includes present-day New Mexico and Arizona was designated as "New Mexico. Read our Review here. Ha, there's no Sundown Towns her in AZ. The sheriff asked, Wheres your chauffeur hat? Rons dad was ready; he had one in the car: Hanging right up in the back, Officer., Despite all the dangers, millions of black vacationers, like Rons family, did explore the countrymany relying on a unique travel guide, The Negro Motorist Green Book. Cheryl Resur, known as The Cookie Lady, happily sells us a toothsome assortment. In 2018 the estimated population was 789. Budgets, Annual Financial Statements and Independent Auditors Report, Residential/Business Water and Sewer Service, Irrigation, Livestock and Construction Water. And although there were no formal segregation laws on the books in California, both Glendale and Culver City were sundown towns and the sun-kissed beaches of Santa Monica were segregated.

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