Rosewood massacre

[[File:Cedar Key Faber Pencil Mill.jpg|thumb|alt=A black and white photograph of a large building featuring a sign that reads "E Faber's Cedar Mill"; More than a dozen white men sit on a large cedar log in the foreground|This pencil mill in [[Cedar Key, Florida|Cedar Key]] was an integral part of local industry.]]

[[File:Cedar Key Faber Pencil Mill.jpg|thumb|alt=A black and white photograph of a large building featuring a sign that reads "E Faber's Cedar Mill"; More than a dozen white men sit on a large cedar log in the foreground|This pencil mill in [[Cedar Key, Florida|Cedar Key]] was an integral part of local industry.]]

Rosewood was settled in 1847, {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} east of [[Cedar Key, Florida|Cedar Key]], near the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Most of the local economy drew on the timber industry; the name Rosewood refers to the reddish color of cut [[Eastern Red Cedar|cedar]] wood. Two pencil mills were founded nearby in Cedar Key; local residents also worked in several [[turpentine]] mills and a sawmill {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} away in [[Sumner, Florida|Sumner]], in addition to farming of citrus and cotton. The hamlet grew enough to warrant the construction of a post office and train depot on the [[Florida Railroad]] in 1870, but it was never incorporated as a town.

Rosewood was settled in 1847, {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} east of [[Cedar Key, Florida|Cedar Key]], near the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Most of the local economy drew on the timber industry; the name Rosewood refers to the reddish color of cut [[eastern red cedar|cedar]] wood. Two pencil mills were founded nearby in Cedar Key; local residents also worked in several [[turpentine]] mills and a sawmill {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} away in [[Sumner, Florida|Sumner]], in addition to farming of citrus and cotton. The hamlet grew enough to warrant the construction of a post office and train depot on the [[Florida Railroad]] in 1870, but it was never incorporated as a town.

Initially, Rosewood had both Black and White settlers. When most of the cedar trees in the area had been cut by 1890, the pencil mills closed, and many White residents moved to Sumner. By 1900, the population in Rosewood had become predominantly Black. The village of Sumner was predominantly White, and relations between the two communities were relatively amicable.Colburn, David R. (Fall 1997) "Rosewood and America in the Early Twentieth Century", ''The Florida Historical Quarterly'', '''76''' (2), pp. 175–192. Two Black families in Rosewood named Goins and Carrier were the most powerful. The Goins family brought the turpentine industry to the area, and in the years preceding the attacks were the second largest landowners in Levy County.[[#Appendices|Jones, ''et al.'' "Appendices"]], p. 135. To avoid lawsuits from white competitors, the Goins brothers moved to [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]], and the population of Rosewood decreased slightly. The Carriers were also a large family, primarily working at logging in the region. By the 1920s, almost everyone in the close-knit community was distantly related to each other.[[#Appendices|Jones, ''et al.'' "Appendices"]], p. 163. The population of Rosewood peaked in 1915 at 355 people. Florida had effectively [[Disenfranchisement after the Reconstruction Era|disenfranchised]] Black voters since the start of the 20th century by high requirements for voter registration; both Sumner and Rosewood were part of a single voting precinct counted by the [[U.S. census]]. In 1920, the combined population of both towns was 638 (344 Black and 294 White).[[#Incident at Rosewood|Jones ''et al.'']], p. 20.

Initially, Rosewood had both Black and White settlers. When most of the cedar trees in the area had been cut by 1890, the pencil mills closed, and many White residents moved to Sumner. By 1900, the population in Rosewood had become predominantly Black. The village of Sumner was predominantly White, and relations between the two communities were relatively amicable.Colburn, David R. (Fall 1997) "Rosewood and America in the Early Twentieth Century", ''The Florida Historical Quarterly'', '''76''' (2), pp. 175–192. Two Black families in Rosewood named Goins and Carrier were the most powerful. The Goins family brought the turpentine industry to the area, and in the years preceding the attacks were the second largest landowners in Levy County.[[#Appendices|Jones, ''et al.'' "Appendices"]], p. 135. To avoid lawsuits from white competitors, the Goins brothers moved to [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]], and the population of Rosewood decreased slightly. The Carriers were also a large family, primarily working at logging in the region. By the 1920s, almost everyone in the close-knit community was distantly related to each other.[[#Appendices|Jones, ''et al.'' "Appendices"]], p. 163. The population of Rosewood peaked in 1915 at 355 people. Florida had effectively [[Disenfranchisement after the Reconstruction Era|disenfranchised]] Black voters since the start of the 20th century by high requirements for voter registration; both Sumner and Rosewood were part of a single voting precinct counted by the [[U.S. census]]. In 1920, the combined population of both towns was 638 (344 Black and 294 White).[[#Incident at Rosewood|Jones ''et al.'']], p. 20.