See redlining maps from Iowa cities
How to read a redlining map: A and B designations described neighborhoods with the lowest lending risk. These were predominantely white neighborhoods with higher property value. C and D neighborhoods represented a higher lending risk, and these areas were generally where Black or other minority populations lived. These maps were created by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC), a federal program intended to rescue homeowners from foreclosure during the Great Depression.
You can download or view similar HOLC maps from about 200 cities across the country at https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/.
What do the different colors mean?
A
Best
lowest risk
best property values
white population
B
Good
low risk
buffer zones
white population
C
Declining
high risk
decreased investment
mixed population
D
Hazardous
highest risk
no investment
mixed population