Lost Black Land of Forsyth County is an independent research project focused on documenting land owned by Black families who lived in Forsyth County, Georgia, prior to the 1912 racial expulsion. That year, the county’s Black population was forced out through a campaign of violence and intimidation.
The project reconstructs Black land ownership around the time of the expulsion, traces what happened to individual properties in the years that followed, follows where some families relocated, and identifies where their land is located today. Census records, tax digests, deeds, probate records, newspapers, and other historical sources are used to reconstruct these histories.
By making this history more visible and accessible, the project hopes to encourage reflection and greater public awareness of this chapter in Forsyth County’s past.
Historical Context
In 1912, Forsyth County, Georgia, experienced a wave of racial violence following two incidents: the alleged assault of a white woman and, days later, the rape and murder of another. In response, white mobs used threats, violence, and arson to force more than 1,000 Black residents to flee the county.
This campaign led to the near-total removal of the Black population, many of whom left behind homes, land, and community ties. The impact of that expulsion shaped the county’s demographics for much of the 20th century.
Project Goals
This project aims to:
- Document land owned by Black families in Forsyth County around the time of the 1912 expulsion
- Track how that land changed hands in the years that followed
- Trace where some of the displaced families moved afterward
- Identify and visualize where that land is located today
- Make the underlying historical records accessible to others
- Encourage greater public awareness and reflection on this history
About the Researcher
Lost Black Land of Forsyth County is researched and maintained by Stacy Guy, a Forsyth County resident with an interest in local history and genealogy.
Questions, corrections, additional records, and information from descendants of Forsyth County’s Black families are welcome.
Contact: stacyguy@stacyguy.com
