The maps below show neighborhoods where racial restrictive covenants were imposed in the decades when they were legal. Most restrictions in Snohomish County date from 1922 to 1954 (with a few imposed in the 1960s) and covered a large percentage of subdivisions developed in that period. We have documented more than 4,200 restricted properties in 93 subdivisions. Do not assume that areas without circles were unrestricted. Neighborhoods without covenants often practiced racial exclusion by other means. And the practice extended throughout the county. In 1940, Snohomish's population of 88,754 included only 154 Black people and 648 other non-whites (mostly members of the Tulalip and Stilliguamish nations). As the population tripled to 265,236 by 1970, the number of non-white residents remained miniscule. The census counted only 1,012 Black residents, 143 of them inmates in Monroe Prison. Asian Americans numbered only 937. The tiny numbers speak to something other than racial segregation. Exclusion was the issue. Exclusionary practices had ensured that the county remained 98.3% white.
Here we highlight subdivisions. For a more complete view of individual properties go to our Snohomish parcels map
These are preliminary findings and subject to revision. We are still adding and confirming data. We are grateful to the Snohomish County Auditor office for making it possible for us to search digital property records using a computer program written by Nicholas Boren with help from Michael Corey at Mapping Prejudice. Suspected restrictions were confirmed by Samantha Cutts and Erin Miller who managed data entry and geocoding. Maps by James Gregory.
Data caveat: On the map above, do not assume that areas without circles were not restricted. Restrictive covenants were only one of the mechanisms of segregation. Neighborhoods without covenants often practiced racial exclusion by other means.
There is a logic to the geography. Areas platted (subdivided) between 1925 and 1948 were most likely to be restricted. Realtors and developers wrote racial exclusions into the initial documents subdividing a future neighborhood. All properties in the subdivision were thus legally restricted. It was more complicated to restrict older areas. Neighborhood associations sometimes organized petition drives and convinced white homeowners to add racial restriction clauses to their properties.
Look at the language of restriction in these deeds. Some specify that neighborhoods are reserved for "Whites," while others enumerate the prohibited racial groups. And the wording is curious. In the terminology of the 1920s-1940s "Hebrews" meant Jews; "Ethiopians" meant African ancestry; "Malays" meant Filipinos; "Mongolians" meant all east Asians; "Hindus" meant all south Asians.
