Migration, Demography, & Environmental Change: Global Challenges

A Political, Economic, and Social Profile

John P. Tuman, Tiffiany O Howard, Nerses Kopalyan, David F. Damore

• Publisher: University of Nevada Press
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781948908993
• Topic: Ciencias sociales
• Subtopic: Sociología

Throughout history, the Latinx population has contributed substantially to Nevada's mining, railroad, farming, ranching, and tourism industries. Latinos in Nevada provides a comprehensive analysis of this fastest-growing and diverse ethnic group, exploring the impact of the Hispanic/Latinx population on the Silver State in the past, present, and future.This extensive study by a distinguished and multidisciplinary team of scholars discusses the impact of the Latinx population from the early development of the state of Nevada and highlights their roles in society, as well as the specific implications of their growing presence in the state. It also contemplates the future of the Latinx population and the role they will continue to play in politics and the economy.This in-depth examination of a large and relatively understudied population will be of interest to scholars and students who study disparities in health and education opportunities as well as the political and economic climate among Latinos and other groups in Nevada and beyond. A political, economic, and demographic profile, this book:

• Explores the history, growth, and diversity of the Latinx population.
• Draws on an array of census data, voter surveys, statistics, interviews, and health, education, employment, wages, and immigration statistics.
• Evaluates key trends in employment, education, religion, and health.
• Analyzes the dynamics of political participation, including implications of a growing Latino political electorate in a western swing state.
• Assesses key determinants of health disparities, educational inequities, and civic engagement among Latinos in the state.
• Demonstrates the impact of the Great Recession of 2008 and provides a preliminary assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latino employment.

CHAPTER 1

Introduction—A History

The Southwest region of the United States has had a Hispanic presence for more than 400 years. Historical accounts reveal a long history of Hispanic settlement in the region that began with the establishment of the Spanish colonial territory of New Spain in 1521.¹ For 300 years, the Southwest, including what is present-day Nevada, was controlled by Spain, until Mexico established its independence from Spain on August 24, 1821. For more than twenty years, Mexico would retain control of the territory that now comprises the states of Texas, California, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and areas of Colorado and Wyoming.² Mexico would eventually lose control of this territory to the United States after its defeat in the Mexican-American War of 1848.³ And two years later, in 1850, with the first US Census that provided detailed household information, we began to have data confirming the enduring and impactful presence of Hispanics and Latinos in the Southwest, and specifically in the territory that would later become the state of Nevada.

Origins of Nevada’s Early Hispanic/Latino Population

Critics and supporters of the term “Hispanic” ascribe varied meanings to the word. In New Mexico and other parts of the Southwest, many embrace the term Hispano (Hispanic in Spanish) as a term of ethnic identification. Many of those who reject the word’s usage often associate it with the colonial power of Spain and its enslavement and oppression of the native indigenous population in the region. Thus, contemporary references to this group exhibit a preference for the usage of the term(s) Latino/a/x.⁴ Throughout this book, the terms Hispanic and Latino will be used interchangeably, reflecting the comprehensiveness of both words, as well as acknowledging the evolution of cultural preferences. That is why in this opening chapter we begin by deconstructing the term Hispanic and contextualize its general meaning, as well as its intended meaning for the purposes of this work.

At its most basic level, Hispanic refers to the collective identity of a people with direct ethnic, sociocultural, and linguistic linkages to Spain, and by extension the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America and the Caribbean—but excluding that of Brazil, Haiti, and all other non-Spanish speaking countries in the region. Ethnically, Hispanics are predominantly descended from the unions between indigenous Americans and early Spanish settlers. At the same time, a combination of the substantial presence of African Moors in Spain, several of whom took part in early Spanish expeditions, and the burgeoning African slave trade that began in the 1440s, has contributed to the further diversification of the Hispanic ethnic identity. As a result, Hispanics may be purely European, Indigenous, or African, a combination of two of the three groups, or a blend of all three.

Socioculturally, Hispanics reflect cultural traditions inherited from the Iberian Peninsula that were altered and transformed by the influences of indigenous and African traditions, and developed in the Americas. While no group is monolithic and there will always be variations in religious traditions, the majority of Hispanics maintain religious affiliation to the Roman Catholic Church. Finally, the primary unifier among Hispanics is the Spanish language, although the dialect varies across regions.

Mining, Ranching, and Hispanic/Latino Settlement in Nevada

Hispanic and Latino settlers established homesteads on the sites of mining discoveries in several areas in Nevada. Many of these places are easily identified in the historical record by their Spanish-origin names. In the early 1800s, the town of Montezuma was established and mined by Spaniards, and later by Mexicans. Montezuma was near Goldfield, in what is now Esmeralda County. The town was abandoned in the mid-1800s, but American miners settled there after the discovery of gold and silver in 1867.

With the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode in western Nevada (then Utah Territory), other settlements were quickly established in the state. Hispanics from several Latin American countries were among this first group of settlers, coming primarily from the state of Sonora in northern Mexico and from Chile. During this time period of the late 1850s, early 1860s, Hispanics of Mexican origin established the town of Guadalajara, Nevada, which was named after its Mexican counterpart. On the eastern side of the Toiyabe Range in central Nevada, the town was established on the site where Mexican settlers discovered gold and silver in the area.

During the early mining boom in Nevada, Mexicans contributed to the smelting operations for silver, bringing techniques from Mexico that included the patio process in arrastra mills.⁵ Chilean immigrants also made important contributions, but by the 1860s, competitive pressures from newer mines displaced some Latino miners. In particular, the introduction of the Washoe process reduced the time required for processing, giving newer mines an edge in efficiency.⁶ But Mexicans and Latinos were also central to the mining sector in other ways. Mexicans who migrated to the region provided the majority of the labor in the mining sector. As a result, the Mexican people were central to the establishment and advancement of mining interests in the state. Nevada towns such as Candelaria and Cortez were erected on profitable mining sites and largely populated by Mexican settlers; and for many decades Mexicans would retain exclusive control of the richest mines in these areas. However, by the late 1880s, Mexican control had eroded with the substantial influx of American settlers from the East and California.

Despite the displacement of Latino settlers for control of the mining industry, Hispanics played a key role in the development of Nevada’s mining industry from the very beginning. With the mining boom in Nevada and the subsequent population increase, a demand for meat also rose sharply. This would lead to the establishment of some of Nevada’s earliest sheep and cattle ranches, several of which were owned by Hispanics. Consequently, with the emergence of Nevada’s two biggest economic industries—mining and ranching—Hispanics were instrumental in establishing some of Nevada’s earliest towns as they put down roots to take advantage of the state’s burgeoning economy.

Immigration to Nevada was at its peak in the 1860s, and Hispanic immigrants featured prominently in the growth and expansion of the state. Responding to population demand, cattle and sheepherders turned to ranching, and several Hispanics became owners of some of Nevada’s earliest ranches.

The most notable Hispanic-owned ranch was the Spanish Ranch in northeastern Nevada. Owned by the Altube brothers, who were Basques, the Spanish Ranch was comprised of approximately 60,000 acres of land, and it was well known for being primarily run by Mexican ranch hands and general laborers. The Spanish Ranch operated under the Altube brothers from 1871, but with the death of Pedro Altube in 1905 it was sold to several private owners in 1907. The Spanish Ranch is considered one of the largest, richest, and most prominent ranching empires to ever exist in Nevada, and the lands that were originally held by the Altube brothers continue to provide livestock to Northern Nevadans.⁷

The Railroads and Nevada’s Expanding Hispanic/Latino Population

The expansion of railroad lines into the Southwest spurred an increasing demand for low-cost labor. Mexican railroad workers were first hired during the 1880s to work on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. At that time, only a handful of Mexican laborers were working for the railroad companies in the region, but by the turn of the century the Southern Pacific Railroad employed more than 4,500 Mexicans. The increasing number of Mexican laborers meant a significant increase in the region’s overall Hispanic population as workers brought their families with them.⁸ Estimates suggest that from 1910 to 1917, the United States received about 300,000 Mexicans—an average of 48,000 each year—with the majority of the migrants coming to work on the railroads.

The San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad would begin construction in 1901 in Pomona, California. The development of the interstate railroad fueled additional demand for labor, thereby leading to an influx of Mexican and Latino workers into Southern Nevada. As such, Mexicans were among the first residents of the town of Las Vegas when it was founded in 1905. And by 1911, the Dillingham Commission, which was responsible for reporting on the status of immigrants in the United States, determined that Mexican migrants were responsible for the majority of the railroad construction work that took place in the rough, largely uninhabited terrain of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California.⁹ By 1930, railroad crews in Southern Nevada and the surrounding areas were primarily comprised of Mexican workers, with estimates suggesting that 70 percent of the railroad labor force being of Mexican descent.¹⁰

For most of the laborers working on the railroads, work began to slow and disappeared entirely with the Great Depression of the 1930s; however, Mexican workers managed to maintain their predominant presence in railroad positions, despite the failing economy. This was because railroad companies paid these workers a minimal wage, and much like undocumented laborers today, in the absence of citizenship status and union protections, Mexican workers were not in any position to advocate for higher wages. With the onset of the Great Depression and the scarcity of railroad positions that were almost exclusively held by Mexican migrants, race relations deteriorated significantly among European Americans, African Americans, and Mexicans in Nevada. Despite the hardening of race relations and increasing public disapproval, Mexican workers continued to provide most of the labor in the railroad industry for more than two decades as they laid new rail and maintained existing lines in the region.

Hispanics/Latinos in Nevada after World War II

As noted, Latinos have been present in Nevada in substantial numbers since the mid-1800s. However, with the transient industries of mining and the railroad, many Latinos would only stay in one area temporarily, migrating throughout the Southwest to follow available work or opportunities. A large number of Hispanics did not begin to settle permanently in the state of Nevada until World War II when the US established the Bracero Program.

Because of the rise of unemployment, from 1929 to 1933, and again in 1936, the US government engaged in mass deportation of Mexicans. At least 500,000 Mexicans were repatriated during this period, most estimates suggest.¹¹ World War II created a dire labor shortage in the US, as able-bodied men were drafted and sent to war in Europe or the South Pacific. To address the growing demand for domestic labor in the US, the US government and the Mexican government signed an agreement in 1942 that came to be known as the Bracero Program. The Bracero Program was designed to be a temporary labor program whereby Mexico would provide workers for the agriculture and railroads in the US throughout the duration of the war. However, these sectors came to be dependent upon Mexican labor, even after the war ended. Because of pressure from the US labor movement, Congress terminated the Bracero Program in 1964. During its twenty-year duration, the program sponsored an estimated five million border crossings of contract workers from Mexico. Many of the Mexican guest workers eventually succeeded in obtaining legal permanent residency, while others abandoned farm work for more profitable employment in other US cities. Consequently, the first substantial wave of Mexican migration took place during the era of the Bracero Program, and Nevada, specifically Las Vegas, was one of the most popular places for permanent settlement.¹²

FIGURE 1.1. Population of Las Vegas, 1900–2010

An airbase, with its defense industry employment, a magnesium factory, and a growing casino and hospitality industry came to Las Vegas and its surrounding areas during World War II. The flourishing industries and expanding population in what is now Clark County attracted more businesses to support the new residents. Many of the people who flocked to Las Vegas during this period were Hispanics, and as Las Vegas grew as a city, so did its Latino population. However, because of de facto segregation, Latinos were often relegated to menial labor jobs, working as maids, janitors, dishwashers, construction workers, and busboys in the growing Las Vegas area.

Although the population of Las Vegas has steadily increased since the city’s inception, in the decades following the end of World War II, the City of Las Vegas more than doubled its number of residents (fig. 1.1). With this population growth, the racial and ethnic demographics of the city have also changed significantly. In 1950 Whites made up 92.4 percent of the city’s population, and African Americans made up 6.6 percent. However, two decades later, the percentage of Whites had declined to 89.5 percent, while the Hispanic population more than tripled during that same time period, growing from 3,174 in 1950 to 9,937 in 1970. By 1980 the Hispanic population in Las Vegas had more than tripled again to 34,998, and that increasing population trend continues today.

FIGURE 1.2. Projected US Population Estimates, by Race/Ethnicity, 2015 and 2065

Conclusion: Latinos in Nevada Today

According to projections made by the Pew Research Center,¹³ immigrants and their descendants will continue to account for the majority of the US population growth for at least the next fifty years. Estimates suggest that by 2065, the total US population will include approximately 441 million people—78 million will be immigrants, and 81 million will have been born to immigrant parents. The fertility rate in the US, however, is expected to remain low. As a result of immigrant-driven population growth, the demographics of the US will also continue to undergo a substantial transformation. By 2065, at least one in five of the US population will be foreign-born, and no racial or ethnic group will account for a majority of the population (fig. 1.2).

As figure 1.2 illustrates, by 2065 Hispanics/Latinos will continue to be the second-largest racial/ethnic group in the United States. Significantly, Latinos will make up almost 25 percent of the US population. The continual rise of the US Hispanic/Latino population, in addition to changing the country’s racial and ethnic demographics, will also have a sustained impact on all facets of society, including politics, education, the economy, and public health institutions. Inarguably, nowhere is the impact of the growing Latino population more evident than in the state of Nevada.

Nevada has experienced the largest population increase of any state in the country, which has resulted in its emergence as a swing state in domestic politics. Now with 47 percent of Nevadans classified as non-White, and Latinos accounting for 29 percent of the total state population in 2018, Nevada is presently a state with a majority minority population.¹⁴ Nevada has witnessed a shift in political behavior and attitudes, largely because of its growing Latino population—a Latino population that is a diverse, multiracial collective with specific needs and objectives.

Latinos in Nevada examines the impact of the Hispanic/Latino population on Nevada—then, now, and in the future. Each chapter is thematic and, as such, we do not employ a single theoretical framework in the analysis. However, as discussed throughout the book, our analysis is broadly informed by scholarship that emphasizes the importance of structural and institutional factors, and their intersection with race and ethnicity, in shaping demographic trends, political participation, and labor market, health, and educational outcomes. Beginning with this chapter, which has briefly discussed the Latino contribution to the early development of the state of Nevada, this book highlights the societal role of Latinos in Nevada, as well as...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Introduction—A History
• 2. Immigration
• 3. Political Profile
• 4. The Great Recession, Labor Market Conditions, and Employment
• 5. The Social Determinants of Health
• 6. Educational Access and Outcomes
• 7. Conclusion—The Future
• Appendix
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Authors