But before that the slave and free black population of Richmond always seems to be off stage.

Louisville also had a free black population, among whom some managed to acquire property.

Foreign-born persons made up less than 3 percent of the South's free population.

Their duties were primarily to protect the homes and businesses of the free population at night.

As their terms expired, they also added permanently to the free population.

For the mass of the free population, did legal status matter?

It could be done, but not with a free population.

This parish, the poorest in Louisiana, lost 20 percent of its free population from 1980 to 2000.

It was the largest free black population by 1860.

Like many slave states, Missouri had a small free black population.