List of first African-American mayors

In the 19th century in the American South during Reconstruction, African Americans began to be elected to many local offices, such as sheriff or Justice of the Peace, and some became the first African-American mayors of cities and towns. After this brief period, African Americans found themselves unable to obtain mayoral offices due to racial discrimination. In the 1960s, they again began to be elected or appointed to mayoral positions following the achievements of the civil rights movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. Achievements in African Americans' being elected mayor in majority-European American and other municipalities made their political participation one of daily life in many localities.

Contents
19th century: 1860s • 1870s • 1880s 20th century: 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s 21st century: 2000s • 2010s See also • References

1860s

• 1868

First African American elected mayor of a U.S. town: Pierre Caliste Landry, Donaldsonville, Louisiana[1]

First African-American mayor of Kingstree, South Carolina: Stephen Atkins Swails

• 1869

First African-American mayor of Maryville, Tennessee: W. B. Scott[2]

1870s

• 1870

First African American elected mayor of a Mississippi city: Robert H. Wood, Natchez, Mississippi[3][4]

• 1878

First African American elected to serve as mayor in the state of New York: Edward "Ned" Sherman, Cleveland, New York[5][6]

1880s

• 1888

First African-American mayor of a predominantly white U.S. town, and of a Western U.S. town: Edward Duplex, Wheatland, California[7]

1960s

• 1964

First African-American mayor of a U.S. city: George D. Carroll, Richmond, California

• 1966

Following African-American mayors of a U.S. cities: Robert C. Henry, Springfield, Ohio (appointed by city commission)

First African- American mayor of a U.S. city: Floyd J. McCree, Flint, Michigan

First African-American mayor in the state of California: Tom Yarborough, Lake Elsinore, California

• 1967

First Elected (1967) African-American mayor of a large U.S. city: Richard G. Hatcher, Gary, Indiana[8]

First African-American mayor of a large U.S. city: Carl Stokes (Cleveland, Ohio)

First African American appointed mayor of Washington, D.C.: Walter Washington (see also: 1975)

First African American elected mayor of Ypsilanti, Michigan: John Burton [9]

• 1968

First African American elected Mayor of Montclair, New Jersey: Matthew G. Carter[10]

First African-American mayor of a Kentucky city: Luska Twyman, Glasgow, Kentucky

First African American elected mayor of a predominantly white southern city: Howard Nathaniel Lee, Chapel Hill, North Carolina[11]

• 1969

First African American elected mayor of Fayette, Mississippi: Charles Evers[12]

1970s

• 1970

First African American elected mayor of Newark, New Jersey: Kenneth A. Gibson

First African American elected mayor of Dayton, Ohio: James H. McGee

First African American appointed mayor of Wichita, Kansas: A. Price Woodard[13]

First African-American elected mayor of Salina, Kansas: Robert C. Caldwell[14]

• 1971

First African American appointed mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan: Lyman Parks (see also: 1973)

First African-American mayor of Englewood, New Jersey: Walter Scott Taylor[15]

• 1972

First African-American mayor of Tallahassee, Florida and first African-American mayor of a state capital: James R. Ford

First African-American mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio: Ted Berry

• 1973

First African American elected mayor of Detroit, Michigan: Coleman Young

First African American elected mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina: Clarence Lightner

First African American elected mayor of a Georgia city: Richmond D. Hill, Greenville[16][17][18]

First African American elected mayor of a major Southern city: Maynard Jackson, Atlanta, Georgia[19]

First African American elected mayor of a major Western city: Tom Bradley, Los Angeles, California

First African-American woman mayor: Lelia Foley, Taft, Oklahoma[20]

First African-American woman mayor of a major satellite city: Doris A. Davis, Compton, California[21]

First African American elected mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan: Lyman Parks (see also: 1971)

• 1974

First African American elected mayor of Waco, Texas: Oscar Du Conge[22]

• 1975

First African American elected mayor, and first elected mayor, of Washington, D.C.: Walter Washington (see also: 1967)

• 1977

First African-American mayor of Richmond, Virginia: Henry L. Marsh[23] (Note: elected from within nine City Council members; changed to general election in 2003)

• 1978

First African American elected mayor of Oakland, California: Lionel Wilson

First African American elected mayor of New Orleans: Ernest Nathan Morial

• 1979

First African American elected mayor of Birmingham, Alabama: Richard Arrington, Jr.

1980s

• 1981

First African American elected mayor of Camden, New Jersey: Randy Primas[24]

First African American elected mayor of Spokane, Washington: James Everett Chase

First African American elected mayor of Plainfield, New Jersey, and first African American elected mayor in Central New Jersey: Everett C. Lattimore[25]

First African-American mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas: Charles E. Bussey Jr.[26]

First African-American mayor of Winter Haven, Florida: Lemuel Geathers

• 1982

First African American appointed mayor of Memphis, Tennessee: J.O. Patterson, Jr.

• 1983

First African American elected Mayor of Chicago: Harold Washington

First African American elected mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina: Harvey Gantt

First African American elected Mayor of Flint: James Sharp

• 1984

First African American elected Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey: James L. Usry

First African American elected Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wilson Goode

First African American elected mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia: James W. Holley, III

• 1985

First African American elected mayor of Mount Vernon, New York, and first African American elected mayor in New York state: Ronald Blackwood[27]

• 1986

First African American and first woman mayor of Newport News, Virginia: Jessie M. Rattley[28]

• 1987

First African American woman elected mayor of a major city Hartford, Connecticut: Carrie Saxon Perry

First African American appointed mayor of Baltimore, Maryland: Clarence H. Burns

First African American elected mayor of Tacoma, Washington: Harold Moss[29]

First African American woman and first woman mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas: Lottie Shackelford

• 1988

First African American elected mayor of Baltimore, Maryland: Kurt Schmoke

First African American elected mayor of Hempstead, New York: James A. Garner

• 1989

First African American elected mayor of New York, New York: David Dinkins

First African American elected mayor of New Haven, Connecticut: John C. Daniels

First African American elected mayor of Richmond, California: George Livingston[30]

First African American elected mayor of Rockford, Illinois: Charles Box

First African American elected mayor of Seattle, Washington: Norm Rice

First African American succeeds to the office of mayor of Minden, Louisiana, via recall of his predecessor: Robert T. Tobin

Willie B Baker, First African-American Elected Mayor of Mt.Pleasant, Tennessee.

1990s

• 1990

First African American elected Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey: Douglas Palmer

First African American elected mayor of New Bern, North Carolina: Leander R. "Lee" Morgan[31]

First African-American mayor of Lynchburg, Virginia: M.W. Thornhill Jr.[32]

First African American elected mayor of Chandler, Arizona: Coy Payne

• 1991

First African American elected mayor of Memphis, Tennessee: W. W. Herenton

First African American elected mayor of Denver, Colorado: Wellington Webb

First African American elected mayor of Kansas City, Missouri: Emanuel Cleaver

First African American woman elected mayor of Washington, D.C.: Sharon Pratt Kelly

• 1992

First African American male elected mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts: Kenneth Reeves

First African American elected mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska: James C. Hayes[33]

• 1993

First African American elected mayor of St. Louis, Missouri: Freeman Bosley, Jr.

First African American elected mayor of Rochester, New York: William A. Johnson, Jr.

• 1994

First African American and first woman elected mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota: Sharon Sayles Belton

• 1995

First African American elected mayor of Dallas, Texas: Ron Kirk

First African American elected mayor of Savannah, Georgia: Floyd Adams, Jr.

• 1996

First African American elected mayor of San Francisco, California: Willie Brown

First African American elected mayor of Monroe, Louisiana: Abe E. Pierce, III

• 1997

First African American elected mayor of Jackson, Mississippi: Harvey Johnson, Jr.

First African American elected mayor of Houston, Texas: Lee P. Brown

First African American elected mayor of Des Moines, Iowa: Preston Daniels[34]

First African American elected mayor of Paterson, New Jersey: Martin G. Barnes

• 1998

First African-American mayor of Jasper, Texas: R. C. Horn[35]

First African-American female elected mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts: E. Denise Simmons

First African-American mayor of Hopewell, Virginia: Curtis West Harris

• 1999

First African-American mayor of Pineville, Louisiana: Clarence R. Fields (became interim mayor in 1999; was elected to a partial term in 2000 and re-elected to full terms in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014)

2000s

• 2000

First African American elected mayor of Columbus, Ohio: Michael B. Coleman

First African American elected mayor of Selma, Alabama: James Perkins, Jr.

• 2001

First African American elected mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi: Johnny DuPree[36]

First African-American woman mayor of a major Southern city, and first woman to be elected mayor of Atlanta, Georgia: Shirley Franklin[37]

First African American and first woman elected mayor of Southfield, Michigan: Brenda L. Lawrence

First African American elected mayor of Fayetteville, North Carolina: Marshall Pitts Jr.[38]

First African-American female Republican elected mayor of Tchula, Mississippi: Yvonne Brown[39]

First African American Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey: Glenn Cunningham[40]

• 2002

First African-American woman elected mayor of Dayton, Ohio: Rhine McLin

First African American elected mayor of Toledo, Ohio: Jack Ford

• 2003

First African-American elected mayor of Palm Springs, California: Ron Oden

First African American elected by citizens as mayor of Tallahassee, Florida: John Marks

First African-American elected mayor, and first elected mayor, of San Ramon, California: H. Abram Wilson

• 2004

First African American elected mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Kip Holden

First African-American mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Marvin Pratt

First African American elected mayor of Pine Bluff, Arkansas: Carl A. Redus Jr.[41]

First African American elected mayor and first African-American female mayor of Waco, Texas: Mae Jackson[42]

• 2005

First African American elected mayor of Buffalo, New York: Byron Brown

First African American elected mayor of Mobile, Alabama: Sam Jones

First African American elected mayor of Asheville, North Carolina: Terry Bellamy

First African American elected mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio: Mark Mallory

First African American elected mayor of Youngstown, Ohio: Jay Williams

First African American and woman elected mayor of Greenwood, Mississippi: Sheriel F. Perkins [43]

• 2006

First African American elected mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana: Cedric Glover

First African American elected mayor of Anderson, South Carolina: Terence Roberts

First African American elected mayor of Killeen, Texas: Timothy Hancock [44]

• 2007

First African-American woman and first woman elected mayor of Baltimore, Maryland: Sheila Dixon

First African American elected mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina: Yvonne Johnson

First African American elected mayor of Wichita, Kansas: Carl Brewer

First African American elected mayor of South Harrison Township, New Jersey: Charles Tyson[45]

• 2008

First African American elected mayor of Blue Springs, Missouri: Carson Ross

First African American elected mayor of Lancaster, Texas: Marcus Knight

First African American elected mayor of Mansfield, Ohio: Donald Culliver

First African American elected mayor of Sacramento, California: Kevin Johnson

First African American mayor of Festus, Missouri: Earl Cook[46]

First African-American and first woman elected mayor of Cambridge, Maryland: Victoria Jackson-Stanley

• 2009

First African American elected mayor of Philadelphia, Mississippi: James Young

First African American elected mayor of Freeport, New York: Andrew Hardwick[47]

First African-American woman elected mayor of Brentwood, Maryland: Xzavier Montgomery-Wright[48]

2010s

• 2010

First African-American woman elected mayor of Fontana, California: Acquanetta Warren[49]

First African American elected mayor of Columbia, South Carolina: Stephen K. Benjamin

• 2011

First African American elected mayor of Jacksonville, Florida: Alvin Brown[50]

First African-American mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee: Daniel Brown

• 2012

First African-American mayor of Ithaca, New York: Svante Myrick

First African-American mayor of Antioch, California: Wade Harper[51]

First African American and first female mayor of Orrville, Alabama: Louvenia Diane Lumpkin[52]

First African-American mayor of Phenix City, Alabama: Eddie Lowe

First African-American woman and first woman elected mayor of Gary, Indiana: Karen Freeman-Wilson[53]

• 2013

First African-American mayor of Plano, Texas: Harry LaRosiliere

First African-American mayor of Meridian, Mississippi: Percy Bland

• 2014

First African-American Mayor of Adairsville, Georgia: Kenneth J. Carson

First African-American mayor of Brunswick, Georgia: Cornell Harvey

First African-American female mayor of San Antonio, Texas: Ivy Taylor[54]

First African-American woman elected mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana: Ollie Tyler

First African-American female Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, as well as the first African-American female mayor of any municipality in Bergen County, New Jersey: Lizette Parker[55]

Second African-American mayor of Rochester, New York: Lovely Warren, also first Female African-American mayor of rochester.

• 2015

First African American and first African-American woman elected mayor of Pearsall, Texas: Mary Moore[56]

First African American and first African-American woman elected mayor of Conway, South Carolina: Barbara Blain-Bellamy[57]

First African American elected mayor of Camilla, Georgia: Rufus L Davis II[58]

First African-American woman elected mayor of Toledo, Ohio: Paula Hicks-Hudson

First African-American woman and first woman elected mayor of Flint, Michigan: Karen Weaver

• 2016

First African-American and first African-American female mayor of Midland City, Alabama: Jo Ann Bennett Grimsley[59]

First African American elected mayor of Norfolk, Virginia: Kenneth Alexander[60]

First African American elected mayor of Stockton, California: Michael Tubbs[61]

• 2017

First African American elected mayor of Stamps, Arkansas: Brenda Davis[62]

First African-American woman elected mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina: Vi Lyles

First African American elected mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota: Melvin Carter

• 2018

First African American elected mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas: Frank Scott Jr.

First African American mayor of Brookneal, Virginia: James Nowlin

First African American mayor of Orange County, Florida: Jerry Demings

• 2019

First African American elected Mayor of Manor: Dr. Larry Wallace Jr.

First African American woman elected Mayor of Chicago: Lori Lightfoot

First African American mayor of Lewisburg, West Virginia: Beverly White

First African American elected Mayor of Montgomery: Steven Reed

First African American elected mayor of Talladega, Alabama: Timothy Ragland

First African American elected mayor of Irmo, South Carolina: Barry Walker

First African American elected mayor of Eastpointe, Michigan: Monique Owens

First African American elected mayor of New Castle, Pennsylvania: Chris Frye

First African American elected mayor of Wyoming, Ohio: Thaddeus Hoffmeister

2020s

• 2020

First African American elected mayor of Ferguson, Missouri: Ella Jones

See also

• List of African-American firsts
• List of African-American U.S. state firsts
• List of African-American United States Cabinet Secretaries
• Timeline of the civil rights movement

References

1. Ron Stodghill, "Driving Back Into Louisiana’s History", The New York Times, May 25, 2008, accessed July 7, 2008
2. City of Maryville: "Maryville Historic Timeline" Archived February 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
3. Foner, Eric (1996). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction (Revised ed.). Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. p. 235. ISBN 0-8071-2082-0.
4. Behrend, Justin. "An Online Resource for Reconstructing Democracy: Grassroots Black Politics in the Deep South after the Civil War by Justin Behrend". Black Politicians Database. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
5. White, Richard (March 12, 2018). "Ned Sherman: Early African-American Mayor". The New York History Blog. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
6. "Edward Sherman". Northshore Roots. Cleveland Historical Society. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
7. "African American History American West Timeline", BlackPast.org, accessed August 3, 2008
8. Hatcher, Richard G. (1933- ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. (n.d.). Retrieved June 24, 2016, from http://www.blackpast.org/aah/hatcher-richard-g-1933
9. Robinson, Veronica (September 4, 2009). "John Burton, One of the First African American Mayors in Michigan". Ann Arbor District Library. ypsigleanings.aadl.org. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
10. Orel, Gwen (March 22, 2012). "Matthew G. Carter, Montclair's first African American mayor, dies at 98". Montclair Times. NorthJersey.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
11. Howard N. Lee Archived June 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, North Carolina Utilities Commission, accessed May 25, 2008
12. Neil R. McMillen, Dark Journey: Black Mississippians in the Age of Jim Crow, Chicago: University of Illinois, 1990, p.26
13. " Previous Wichita Mayors 1950-1989" Archived May 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine City of Wichita
14. "Robert C. Caldwell" at the University of Kansas Libraries Kenneth Spencer Research Library
15. Brooke, James (June 18, 1984). "Rev. Walter Taylor, ex-mayor in Jersey led drive for rights". New York Times. New York, New York. Retrieved October 6, 2017. The Rev. Walter Scott Taylor, a civil-rights leader and the first black mayor of Englewood, N.J., died of cancer Saturday at Englewood Hospital. He was 67 years old.
16. Hollings, Ernest (April 14, 1983). "Voting Rights Act Progress" (PDF). Congressional Record. pp. 8628–8629. Retrieved September 28, 2018. ... the Honorable Richmond Daniel Hill, mayor of Greenville, Ga., and, incidentally, the first elected black mayor of Georgia, will be honored upon his retirement from public life.
17. Byrd, Rubye (September 20, 2002). "Plan to Attend Special Dedication". Meriwether Vindicator. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
18. "Greenville Takes Pride in Richmond Hill Dedication". Meriwether Vindicator. October 4, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
19. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Mayors of Atlanta, Georgia". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
20. Johnson, John H., ed. (June 21, 1973). "Once on welfare, black woman now mayor of her hometown in Taft, Okla". Jet. Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. 45 (13): 18. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
21. Johnson, John H., ed. (June 21, 1973). "City near Los Angeles elects woman as mayor". Jet. Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. 45 (13): 17. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
22. "African-American Heritage – Waco & The Heart of Texas". wacoheartoftexas.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
23. "Explorations in Black Leadership". University of Virginia Institute for Public History. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
24. O'Brien, Reity (March 4, 2012). "Melvin R. "Randy" Primas Jr., Camden's first African American mayor, dies at 62". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
25. "Plainfield, N.J., Elects Its First Black Mayor". Jet. December 10, 1981. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
26. "Charles E. Bussey Jr. (1918–1996)", Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture.
27. Taliaferro, Lanning (February 25, 2017). "Ronald Blackwood: First Black Mayor Elected in New York". Mount Vernon Patch. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
28. "Jessie M. Rattley". www.lva.virginia.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
29. Campbell, Cory. “Moss, Harold (1929- )”. Blackpast.org. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
30. Jones, Carolyn (January 11, 2012). "George Livingston, Richmond's 1st black elected mayor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
31. "Society World". Jet. February 19, 1990. p. 38. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
32. Gore, Sherese, "Lynchburg's first black mayor, M.W. Thornhill, dies", The News & Advance, July 3, 2016.
33. Troyer, Eric (December 28, 1992). "'Nice guy' moves into City Hall". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. p. A1. Retrieved December 4, 2018. In October, Hayes became the first black mayor of Fairbanks, winning a nearly uncontested election with more than 80 percent of the vote. He had token opposition from write-in candidate Bill Preising.
34. "Daniels, Preston A. (1945- ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". www.blackpast.org. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
35. Besson, Eric, "R.C. Horn, Jasper's first black mayor, dies", Beaumont Enterprise, August 2, 2016.
36. McLaughlin, Lacey "Democrats: The Mayor or the Businessman?" Archived January 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Jackson Free Press July 13, 2011 Retrieved August 21, 2011
37. Fecht, Josh; Stevens, Andrew (November 14, 2007). "Shirley Franklin: Mayor of Atlanta". City Mayors. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
38. Williams, Mike (December 6, 2001). "Two alumni win mayoral elections". Campus Echo. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
39. Donald Adderton (July 15, 2002). "At the RNC with Party Chair Ed Gillespie". Press Register. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014. ...Brown is proud of being the first African-American female Republican to be elected mayor -- not only in Mississippi, but also the United States -- ...
40. "Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham: A life filled with firsts". NJ.com. April 24, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
41. ArkansasMatters.com: "Arkansas Mayoral Runoff Election Results", November 26, 2008
42. "Jackson, Mae", Encyclopedia.com.
43. Fausset, Richard (June 7, 2009). "In Mississippi, race plays out in mayoral election". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
44. Miller, Dave (May 13, 2012). “City owes Hancock thanks for his service”. Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
45. "Former South Harrison mayor who endured death threats steps down from council", Associated Press via NJ.com, November 10, 2009
46. Rubin, Ann (January 21, 2009). "Festus swears-in first African-American mayor". KSDK News.
47. Rivera, Laura (April 6, 2009). "300 watch as Andrew Hardwick sworn in as Freeport mayor". Newsday. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
48. Izadi, Elahe (February 18, 2010). "History maker". The Gazette. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
49. "Acquanetta Warren Becomes Fontana's First Black Mayor". Black Voice News. November 4, 2010. Archived from the original on December 14, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
50. "Alvin Brown makes history, becoming city's first African-American mayor", The Florida Times-Union, May 18, 2011
51. , "Contra Costa Times", December 26, 2012
52. "Voters Make History in Orrville". Selma Times-Journal. August 29, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
53. "Karen Freeman-Wilson Elected As Gary, Ind.’s First Female Mayor (VIDEO)", HuffPost, January 9, 2012.
54. "Taylor makes History", "San Antonio Express News", July 22, 2014
55. Green, Jeff (July 1, 2014). "Death of Teaneck Mayor Lizette Parker sends shock waves through Teaneck". Bergen Record (NorthJersey.com). Retrieved April 25, 2016.
56. "PEARSALL CITY COUNCIL". Frio-Nueces Current. May 28, 2015.
57. "Barbara Blain-Bellamy elected new Mayor of Conway". WorldNow and WMBF. November 3, 2015.
58. "2015 Southwest Georgia Election Results". WFXL FOX 31 News. November 3, 2015.
59. Sailors, Jimmy. "Midland City mayor denies she made racially charged Facebook comment". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
60. "Kenneth Alexander First African-American Mayor | AU GSLC". Antioch Graduate School of Leadership & Change. May 11, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
61. Phillips, Roger. "'This is history now': Michael Tubbs becomes city's first black mayor". recordnet.com. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
62. Williamson, Jim, "Stamps gains first African-American mayor", Texarkana Gazette, October 20, 2017.