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Primary Submission Category: Place/Communities
Legacies of Exclusion: A Case Study of Historical Sundown Practices, Demographic Change, and Health Equity in Elkhart County, Indiana
Authors: Anna Shetler,
Presenting Author: Anna Shetler*
This mixed-methods project examines how the historical sundown practices of Goshen—a city in Elkhart County, Indiana—have shaped county health outcomes and racial-ethnic settlement patterns, particularly recent Latine immigration. Within Elkhart County, there are two core cities: Goshen and Elkhart. These two adjacent cities provide a rare paired case study as they are similar in size and economic history yet shaped by dramatically different racial inclusion practices. This project offers insight into how historical racist exclusionary practices influence present-day demographic composition, segregation, and health disparities.
We ask: (1) how have Goshen’s historical sundown practices shaped its current racial-ethnic composition, and how does this compare to nearby Elkhart? (2) How do these historical practices and demographic patterns relate to present-day population health indicators? (3) How do residents and community leaders understand and interpret the connections between Goshen’s history, demographic change, and community well-being?
We have funding to conduct both the qualitative and quantitative components during the summer of 2026. We will conduct archival research on Goshen’s sundown history and interview local residents, historians, and leaders in Elkhart County. We will analyze demographic and health data from Census and CDC PLACES. We will map racial-ethnic composition and segregation over time and link these patterns to health indicators.
This project will illustrate how legacies of exclusion shape contemporary community well-being, an essential step toward addressing structural determinants of health inequities. The findings may contribute to conversations in Elkhart County about inclusion and housing as well as how American cities remember – and move beyond – their past. Our presentation at IAPHS will include quantitative maps and analyses as well as qualitative summaries of archival and interview findings.