Excluded Appalachia: Exploring the History of Racially Restrictive Covenants in Eastern Kentucky

Prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, community development in the Appalachian region was drastically impacted by the practice of restricting housing opportunities for people of color. In deeds of conveyance, racially restrictive terms limited who could purchase the property in these communities. While the practice of racially restrictive covenants declined into the 1970s and 80s, the impact on cultural division, especially in rural Appalachia, is reflected by racial demographics unable to settle in these communities. In collaboration with Frontier Housing, research was conducted in the Rowan County courthouse deed room to find deeds that included racially restrictive covenants and reference them with plot maps. The project aimed to understand how these covenants shaped the communities in Rowan County. Findings showed that several properties in Rowan County carried racially restrictive covenants. In particular, some of these covenants were attached to developing subdivisions. Understanding when and where these covenants shaped settlement patterns deepens appreciation of Appalachia's cultural and demographic landscapes, offering insight essential to reconciling past injustices with present aspirations for community cohesion.