In the spring of 1912, Black men and women across Forsyth County filed property taxes for their real and personal estate. They had no way of knowing they would be forced to leave their properties behind only a few months later.
Tax returns show 59 Black residents owned at least 1,988 acres of property in Forsyth County. Using the 1912 tax returns and Aero Atlas Map Books, the Digital Storytelling Team at Atlanta History Center mapped the approximate locations of former Black property owners. Information on property sales comes from Buried in the Bitter Waters, written by Pulitzer prizing winning journalist, Elliot Jaspin.
Explore the map below. Best viewed in fullscreen.
- White Map Markers – Events related to the lynching and expulsion of Black residents from Forsyth County in 1912.
- Gold Map Dots – Approximate locations of Black property owners where a record of sale can be found.
- Black Map Dots – Approximate locations of Black property owners where no record of sale can be found.
Disclaimer: Locations are approximate based on land lot locations listed in the 1912 property tax returns. While 59 real estate owners are listed in the returns, not all have land lot information. Because of this, not all property owners are represented on this map.
Real versus Personal Estate
The 1912 property tax returns calculate the valuation of both real and personal estate owned by Black residents in Forsyth County. Real estate includes land and immovable objects. Personal estate includes movable objects like furniture, livestock, and farming equipment. The property tax returns are some of the most valuable documents in calculating assets owned by both Black property owners and renters just before the expulsion. In 1912, the combined assets of Black residents’ personal and real estate were valued at $30,839. When Black residents fled, many were forced to leave behind their personal estate.