We the people: Hispanic communities and their significant impact on the USA

History of Hispanic settlement in the U.S.

Much of the United States’ immigration history is rooted in aftermath from the country’s territorial expansion. However, one of the most significant periods of immigration from Latin America to the U.S. was in 1848; the border between Mexico and the United States was formally established following the end of the Mexican-American war. After each country signed a treaty, around 10,000 Mexicans living in southern California were granted American citizenship and full voting rights.

Soon after, at the height of the California Gold Rush, almost 25,000 Mexicans flocked to northern California to work as gold miners, as well as thousands from Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. In total, it’s thought that over 100,000 men moved to the U.S. during this time, outnumbering the previous immigrant population.

Texas, currently the state with the second largest Hispanic population, was in fact part of Mexico between 1821 and 1836. The original settlers from Spain, known as Tejanos, numbered around 4,000. During the 1820s, the number of settlers and immigrants from the U.S. to Texas increased to 30,000 - by 1830, settlers outnumbered the Tejanos six to one.

After declaring independence from the Republic of Mexico in 1836, Texas (also then known as the Republic of Texas) applied to be annexed with the United States, a decision backed by the majority of the Texian population. The application was rejected, and then in 1843, U.S. President John Tyler made the decision to once again pursue the annexation of Texas.

It was his last official action on his final full day in office to sign the annexation bill in March, 1845. Nine months later, his successor President James K. Polk officially accepted Texas as the 28th state of the Union. Texas then formally became part of the United States in February, 1846, which gave the many Mexican settlers in the territory American citizenship.

Decades later in 1898, at the end of the Spanish-American war, Spain relinquished Puerto Rico and Cuba to the United States in the Treaty of Paris. Cuba later gained independence while Puerto Rico became a commonwealth. This meant that Puerto Ricans were automatically granted American citizenship and could emigrate more easily.

Currently, most Hispanic immigrants in the U.S. are Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Salvadorian, and there are over a million descendants of these groups living in the country today.

So, how has this rich and complex history affected the present-day Hispanic communities across America? Let’s take a look at some statistics.

Little known facts & figures

Venezuelan-Americans have the highest percentage of educational achievement with about 55% of these dual-nationals holding a bachelor’s degree. Argentines come in second at 43%.  

In general, around 16% of Latino adults over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher. While this is lower than the 32% of the overall U.S. population, the figure is up 13% from 2010.

Out of all fifty U.S. states, five are home to 66% of all Latino eligible voters as of 2018. In California alone, there are approximately 7.9 million Latinos eligible to vote. Texas holds 5.6 million, followed by Florida with 3.1 million, then New York at 2 million, and finally Arizona with 1.2 million.

In New Mexico, 43% of all eligible voters are U.S. Latinos - this is the highest share of any state in the U.S.

Recently, the term ‘Latinx’ has emerged to be used alongside or in place of Latino and Latina. Many languages around the world which use male or female construction in grammar are being called upon to introduce more gender-neutral nouns and pronouns, and the use of Latinx among Hispanic communities is one such change.

However, a survey conducted by Pew Research Center in 2019 showed that only 23% of self-identifying Hispanics have heard of the term, and an even lower 3% actually use it to describe themselves. Of those who recognise and understand the term ‘Latinx’, they’re more likely to be between the ages of 18 and 29; 42% of Hispanics between those ages who were polled recognised the term. Only 7% of those aged over 65 had heard of it.

Hispanic populations vary widely in large metropolitan areas. In Los Angeles and Houston, over two thirds of Hispanics are of Mexican origin, which mirrors their overall share of the Hispanic population country-wide.

The largest group in Orlando, Florida, is made up of Puerto Ricans, while Cubans take the majority in the Miami metropolitan area.

Business owners from Latino backgrounds are younger than non-Latinos; 33% of Latino entrepreneurs are under the age of 45, whereas only 22% of non-Latinos fit that age bracket.

How Hispanic communities and culture contribute to the U.S.

Aside from the demographic impact that Latino immigrants have had on the United States, there are many areas of life in which their influence can be seen. Music and food with Latin American heritage can be heard and tasted all around the country, and indeed the world.

Cuban and Mexican cuisines have become so popular in the U.S. that some dishes and drinks are more commonly asked for than their mainstream American counterparts. Sales of tortilla chips have already surpassed those of potato chips, and if you’re down in Miami, you’re more likely to hear an order for a cortadito than a latte.

Economically, the Hispanic population contributes a large portion, particularly small business owners and entrepreneurs; according to a study by Stanford University, they account for around $500 billion in annual sales.

In 2017, a report from New American Economy showed that around 20% of transportation and warehouse businesses are Hispanic-owned. In construction, they own about 12%. The numbers are continuing to grow, with more and more Latinos applying for loans to start their own businesses, or to grow the ones they already have.

The Stanford University study also showed that the number of Latino business owners has grown 34% over the past decade. In that same period, there has only been a 1% growth for all U.S. business owners. Between 2019 and 2020, the average revenue growth of a Latino-owned business was 14% - far outpacing the general growth of the American economy.

The importance of Latino and Hispanic communities in the U.S. cannot be overstated. Their significant impact on the economy and culture is proven, and will only continue to grow, alongside the many transformations happening in the worlds of sport, politics, music and food.