History Conversations REWIND | Mapping Segregation: Racial Restrictive Covenants in Montgomery County

For the majority of the twentieth century, private and public sectors channeled and influenced development of the county based on race and ethnicity. Montgomery Planning built a mapping tool that illustrated historic patterns of segregation inside the Capital Beltway (I-495) by recording racial restrictive covenants in the land records. This presentation discusses the conclusions of our analysis, how de facto and de jure segregation limited opportunities for people of color, and the efforts by the Black community, local activists, and organizations to open the suburbs to all. Originally presented at the January 2023 History Conference.