Levittown

Built after World War II for returning white veterans and their new families, the communities offered attractive alternatives to cramped central city locations and apartments.

Under Levitt & Sons, Levittown housing would maintain racial covenants that excluded non-Caucasian homeowners.

In addition to single-family dwellings, Levittowns provided private meeting areas, swimming pools, public parks, and recreational facilities.

Standard Levittown houses included a white picket fence, green lawns, and modern appliances.

The FHA included racial covenants in each deed when authorizing Levitttown loans, making each Levittown a segregated community.

The Quakers, American Jewish Congress, and the William Penn Center helped organize a 24-7 citizen patrol.