14 Black Towns That Thrived After Slavery—Then Were Burned to the Ground

13. Hamburg (South Carolina)

During Reconstruction, Hamburg thrived as a Black-majority town with economic and political influence. In 1876, white paramilitary groups launched a violent assault known as the Hamburg Massacre, targeting Black residents and burning Black-owned businesses and homes. The attack devastated the community, leading to the loss of Black political power and the town’s decline. Hamburg’s destruction marked a turning point in the rollback of Black rights during the post-Civil War era. History.com details the massacre