sundown

Sundown refers to the daily moment when the sun crosses the horizon and daylight begins to fade, commonly called sunset. In a broader sense, it can describe the entire transitional period from late afternoon through twilight and into dusk. The exact appearance of sundown depends on the observer’s location, the season, and atmospheric conditions.

The precise time of sundown varies with latitude and time of year, and is affected by factors such as solar position, atmospheric refraction, and the local landscape or horizon. Sundown times are used for planning activities, scheduling outdoor work, photography, aviation, and other considerations that depend on available daylight.

In social and historical contexts, the term sundown is associated with “sundown towns.” These were communities in the United States that enforced racial segregation by restricting settlement or residency after sundown for people of certain races, through ordinances, signage, intimidation, or informal practices. Such policies were most common in the late 19th through mid-20th centuries and are now recognized as discriminatory; many towns removed or ignored these practices as civil rights protections expanded.

Beyond timekeeping and historical usage, sundown appears in culture and language as a reference to dusk and is used in various place names and artistic works. Overall, sundown signifies the transition from day to night and the cultural associations that accompany that daily event.