Juneteenth Significance

Sunday marks the anniversary of when the last remaining slaves in America were freed, officially abolishing slavery across the country.

The day is known as Juneteenth. The year was 1865.

On June 19—two years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1863—Union soldiers landed in Galveston, TX, with news that the Civil War had ended and slaves had been freed.

Union Gen. Gordon Granger reportedly read aloud the contents of “General Order No. 3,” proclaiming the law throughout Texas.

This affected communities nationwide, and especially those seaside in Southern California, as U.S. Census Bureau numbers showed a steady increase in California's black population following Juneteenth.

Before Juneteenth, only 962 black people lived in California, according to census numbers from 1850 (during the California Gold Rush.) Then, in 1900, the census counted 11, 045 black people in California.

Even though the Gold Rush attracted many people to California, increasing the state's total population, the growth in the black population was the first by choice and not as a result of slavery.

White population

Black population

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau's historical census statistics on population totals by race)

Now California, along with 37 other states, recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday.

You can learn more about Juneteenth and its significance in American history at the , which is open Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the library is open from 12 noon to 7 p.m. It opens at noon but closes at 6 p.m. on Fridays, and is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The library is closed Sundays and Mondays.