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

14. Pierce City (Missouri)

In 1901, Pierce City’s Black residents were subjected to deadly violence as white mobs killed several people and set Black homes ablaze. The terror forced every Black family to flee, and their abandoned properties were seized and redistributed. For decades, Pierce City was left almost entirely white—a stark reminder of how racial violence erased Black communities from American towns. Understanding these stories is crucial to acknowledging and healing from the injustices of the past. See more at St. Louis Public Radio