It has always been clear that Omaha is a still a very segregated city today. It can be heard through the connotations attached to places like ‘North’ or ‘South’ Omaha in conversations about this city, but how has it gotten to this point? Everything surrounding us today has a history and the images, when compared, above do well to start answering this question.
The first ‘Residential Security Map’, also today known as a red lining map, made by M.H. la Douceur in 1937 divides Omaha up into four rankings. The highest rank was a green ‘A’ titled ‘best’ in the bottom right corner, ‘A’ areas were places mortgage companies would not have to be too scrupulous when giving out loans and would typically be given lower interest rates in. The rankings go down to a dark blue, to a yellow, then finally to a red ‘D’ – hazardous. ‘D’ areas were places mortgage companies were either highly encouraged to avoid and if they did not gave high interest rates to the individuals inside this rank. It was as clear then as it is clear today that this sectioning off of land hugely disadvantaged non-white populations living inside of Omaha.
In the map published by CNN using 2020 census data the aftereffects of redlining in Omaha are clear. While there is now a moderate amount of white households in North and South Omaha, in general, Hispanic and Black households have stayed within the same borders as previously outlined. Laura Vaughan delves into some of the reasons for this. There is a disadvantage factor to start, higher interest rates take a longer time to pay off and take more money no matter the household the longer they take to get paid off. An interesting point Vaughan touches on as well is the communities that form within these lines that may make individuals reluctant to leave.
Leah R. Keith
Maps Map of Omaha and Vicinity - 1937 Race and Ethnicity Across The Nation- 2021 Sources Mapping Society
Nicely done – I like your formatting for these posts, by the way! Late.