The Origins of Segregated Neighborhoods in Spokane
Faculty Mentor
Larry Cebula
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
10-5-2023 11:15 AM
End Date
10-5-2023 1:00 PM
Location
PUB NCR
Department
History
Abstract
1. Introduction - Segregated neighborhoods in Spokane first appeared as a result of racially restrictive property documents - Property documents contained “racial covenants” which restricted people of color from residing in the properties that had them - First known racial covenant in Spokane dates back to January 1920 in Fairmont Cemetery - Established for a crypt in Fairmont by “Inland Mausoleum Company” - Racial covenants at Fairmont paved the way for racial covenants in Spokane neighborhoods.
2. First Segregated Spokane Neighborhood - First neighborhood in Spokane to institute a racial covenant was East Audubon Park Addition in August 1928 - Created by “Union Trust Company of Spokane” - Property document was written for new homebuyer Susan Smith - Smith was first person to purchase a home containing a racial covenant in Spokane.
3. Height of Racial Covenants and Segregation in Spokane - 1940s was the height of segregation in Spokane’s neighborhoods - Rockwood Pines Addition, Sunset View Addition, and other neighborhoods began using racial covenants in 1940s. - Racial covenants restricted opportunities for people of color in Spokane such as where they could live, go to school, etc. - Most Spokane neighborhoods never established racial covenants however.
4. Conclusion - Contrary to popular belief, segregation that existed in Spokane from the 1920s to 1960s was supported by the federal government - Racial covenants were de jure segregation (government sponsored) rather than de facto segregation (natural segregation) - FHA discriminated against people of color in Spokane and across US for securing home loans, obtaining fair interest rates, and receiving fair property tax appraisals - Fair Housing Act of 1968 caused racial covenants and segregation to subside.
Recommended Citation
Busch, Conner, "The Origins of Segregated Neighborhoods in Spokane" (2023). 2023 Symposium. 35.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2023/res_2023/p2_2023/35
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The Origins of Segregated Neighborhoods in Spokane
PUB NCR
1. Introduction - Segregated neighborhoods in Spokane first appeared as a result of racially restrictive property documents - Property documents contained “racial covenants” which restricted people of color from residing in the properties that had them - First known racial covenant in Spokane dates back to January 1920 in Fairmont Cemetery - Established for a crypt in Fairmont by “Inland Mausoleum Company” - Racial covenants at Fairmont paved the way for racial covenants in Spokane neighborhoods.
2. First Segregated Spokane Neighborhood - First neighborhood in Spokane to institute a racial covenant was East Audubon Park Addition in August 1928 - Created by “Union Trust Company of Spokane” - Property document was written for new homebuyer Susan Smith - Smith was first person to purchase a home containing a racial covenant in Spokane.
3. Height of Racial Covenants and Segregation in Spokane - 1940s was the height of segregation in Spokane’s neighborhoods - Rockwood Pines Addition, Sunset View Addition, and other neighborhoods began using racial covenants in 1940s. - Racial covenants restricted opportunities for people of color in Spokane such as where they could live, go to school, etc. - Most Spokane neighborhoods never established racial covenants however.
4. Conclusion - Contrary to popular belief, segregation that existed in Spokane from the 1920s to 1960s was supported by the federal government - Racial covenants were de jure segregation (government sponsored) rather than de facto segregation (natural segregation) - FHA discriminated against people of color in Spokane and across US for securing home loans, obtaining fair interest rates, and receiving fair property tax appraisals - Fair Housing Act of 1968 caused racial covenants and segregation to subside.
