In the U.S.,can there be a private town?

In the United States,are are areas such as clubs, communities,and such that are privately owned and where only members and their invited guests can inhabit.Is it legal for there to be a privately owned town that is off-limits to everyone but official residents and people who are invited?

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LeopoldBloom · M

Yes. Leisure World.

DavidT8899 · 22-25, M

@LeopoldBloom I don't mean a resort,I mean an actually town where people live,only it's been privatized,like a retirement community.

LeopoldBloom · M

@DavidT8899 Leisure World is a private retirement community where people live full-time. Recently, there was a push to incorporate it as a separate city, but I don't think that succeeded. Same with a gated community here in Savannah, "The Landings," which has discussed incorporating. If it did so, it would be restricted to people who lived there and their invited guests.

I'm sure there are some cities like that, but I can't find any. Ryderwood in Washington began as a logging camp, was converted into a retirement community, then eventually took over the entire city, but I don't know if access is restricted in any way. What you're looking for is a restricted-access development that incorporates into a city.

"Sundown towns" (cities where Black people could not remain at night) arguably would have been restricted-access, but wouldn't have been privately owned.

DavidT8899 · 22-25, M

@LeopoldBloom Well,two things about what you posted:I was referring to a town,not an actually city.I agree that would be a little much to privatize!And even in a privately owned town,I don't doubt that you couldn't have a "no blacks allowed"town any more than you could have that in a private school.Civil rights laws still apply even on private property.Other than those things,you gave me a lot of good information -thank you.

LeopoldBloom · M

@DavidT8899 I didn't mean a big city, I meant a reasonably-sized town. And those other things were just examples. Your best bet is to check gated communities to see if any have incorporated.

DavidT8899 · 22-25, M

@LeopoldBloom Thank you.To be honest,it's just something I've been curious about.

LeopoldBloom · M

@DavidT8899 There are "closed cities" in Russia which are exactly what you're thinking of - incorporated government units with restricted access. There may be other examples in Argentina, Pakistan, and South Africa.

DavidT8899 · 22-25, M

@LeopoldBloom But I'm pretty sure most Americans wouldn't find them inviting places to live!