History

CHICANO/LATINOS IN MINNESOTA

MN CHICANO/LATINO HISTORY
The first record of a Chicano/Latino settler in Minnesota dates back to 1886. During this year, a 19 year-old oboe player (Luis Garzon) visited Minneapolis as part of the Mexico City Orchestra. The Orchestra was scheduled to perform at a gala industrial exposition. Luis Garzon fell ill and remained behind as the orchestra left town. Thus, Luis Garzon became the first known Chicano/Latino to reside in Minnesota.

By the turn of the century, Minnesota Census records reflected a population which consisted of 24 Chicano/Latinos.

During the 1910's more than 10% of Mexico's population was displaced. This was due, in part, to the Díaz rule and the revolution which ensued. Another contributing factor to the influx of Latinos was the booming meat-packing, agricultural and railroad industries in the United States. U.S. companies, including the Minnesota Sugar Company (now American Crystal Sugar), began to actively recruit Mexican workers. Due to World War I, labor shortages were also a contributing factor to the increased flow of Chicano/Latinos to Minnesota.

By 1920, an estimated 240 Chicano/Latinos lived in Minneapolis and 70 in Saint Paul. By the early 1930's, 3,636 Chicano/Latinos were living in Minnesota. During this time, Saint Paul's west side became an established Chicano/Latino community.

The first identifiable Chicano/Latino town which was established in greater Minnesota was Albert Lea. The Chicano/Latino community in this area can be traced back as early as the 1940's.

In the 1950's, despite much community opposition, the "flats" (part of Saint Paul's west side) were "rehabilitated". The $9 million development included a massive new flood wall along the Mississippi and the new Riverview Industrial Park. This construction displaced many Chicano/Latino residents and their small homes, stores, schools and churches.

In 1978, the Spanish Speaking Affairs Council (now Chicano Latino Affairs Council) and many other activist organizations were established to defend the rights of Chicano/Latinos in Minnesota.

CHICANO/LATINOS IN THE 1990's - According to the State of Minnesota Demographer's Office, 1995 Census counts show that there are an estimated 85,100 Chicano/Latinos in the state of MN.

The 1995 Census estimates reflect a 56.6% increase from similar 1990 census counts. This increase makes the Chicano/Latino community the fastest growing community in Minnesota during this time period.

In addition to this group of 85,100 Chicano/Latinos, there are also an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 migrant farmworkers who come to Minnesota each summer. Migrant farmworker families arrive as early as May and leave as late as September. These families primarily come from Texas.

The areas in the state with the fastest growing Chicano/Latino community are: the southwestern part of the state and the Metro Area.

The last Census confirmed that Latinos are becoming the largest minority group in the USA,
even larger than other ethnic groups as Africans-Americans or Asians. Statewide, the number of Latinos soared 166 percent, to almost 144,000 in 2000. Almost 96,000 live in the seven-county metro area, a 161 percent jump since 1990 and 3.6 percent of the Twin Cities' population.