Nicodemus: The Legendary Black Pioneer Town | Wild West Short Documentary

Throughout the 19th century and all across the United States, brand new settlements popped up along the American landscape as folks migrated west. Whether it be by the creed of Manifest Destiny, lust for the rumoured gold hidden in the hills, or newfound industries dominating the western frontier bringing jobs in high demand, people from every and all backgrounds had reason to find their home elsewhere. Many of these settlements didn’t last more than a few years, and sometimes even less time than that. This was especially true for mining camps and boom towns, communities that dissipated as fast as they were constructed due to a sudden drop in resources. A few settlements lasted for decades, focusing on tourism as the heyday of the wild west came to a close but the mythos and allure of the frontier still remained. However, this was a short-term success story, and many of these legacy towns quickly filled with ghosts.

And very rarely, you’d see the occasional, lingering settlements last into the modern age, with enough ingenuity and widespread attraction to the masses. These types of towns were especially seen post-Civil War, when the country wasn’t embroiled by conflict and could focus more on westward expansion. No such town defines this latter sentimentality quite like Nicodemus, Kansas, a settlement of wild west lore both built and established entirely by African Americans during the Reconstruction period. To understand more about its longevity and surviving the rest of time, as well as to shine light onto one of the most fascinating bits of American history, here is a closer look at Nicodemus, the legendary Black pioneer town.

0:00 Introduction
1:58 Before the Brick and Mortar
6:04 The Rise of Nicodemus
12:57 The Fall of Nicodemus


Music produced by CO.AG:    / @co.agmusic  

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