Community Based Myths and Legends

There is a short cut that many people who live in she Fremont, Union City, Newark  area can take to get to the 680.  It to go through Niles Canyon. Niles Canyon has quite a few myths and legends in its self.  One of the legends is that a white ghost travels through the Canyon and night.  Although it is a legend and who really knows how the story got started many people believe it and are afraid to drive through the canyon at night.  If you are not familiar with Niles Canyon, it is pitch black at night because there are not any street lights.  So it could be a bit scary if you were to drive through there at night but I also think it depends if you believe in the stories that you have been told.  I have driven through there numerous times at night and I have never seen anything.  I often wonder how much of the white witch story, is just some persons idea that they told one person and it spread throughout an entire community.  Another legend that is connected to Niles Canyon, is that the KKK use to have meetings at the top of one of the hills.  People have claimed to still be able to see the men standing at the top of the hill in their white KKK clothes even though there has not been a community of KKK for many, many decades there.
I think that myths and legends are often very community based.  If you are unfamiliar with Niles Canyon, it is highly unlikely that you would be familiar with the stories of the white witch or of the KKK.  I'm sure that every community has its own stories that have been based down from generation to generation and they are not necessarily stories that people outside of the community would be aware of.

This is a youtube video about myths.  It is by comedian Johnny Sanchez. View at your own risk, it may be offensive to some.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6QOcqjvVWA