Historically, the immigration of Latinos in the United States has been closely related to the availability of jobs in traditional industries (automobiles, agriculture, etc.).  As we look at the shifting Latino populations, we notice a strong correlation to changing economic conditions. For example, Latinos first arrived in Michigan in the early 20th century to work in the sugar beet fields and as the automobile industry demanded more jobs, Latinos were there to fill the positions. Not only did Latinos move to major urban areas in Michigan, such as Detroit, Saginaw, Lansing, and Grand Rapids, but populations moved to rural areas to find work in agriculture(1).

Changes in the Latino Population in the 80’s
By the 1980’s, the Latino population was firmly rooted in Michigan, both geographically and culturally. In 1980, the Latino population in Michigan numbered about 162,440 people, or about one and half times the population of present-day Ann Arbor (2). The 1980 census reported approximately 12,425 Puerto Ricans in Michigan (3). (It is important to note the reported census figures. The 1980 census was the first time all censuses used the same terms and definitions for Latinos. Prior to 1980, different criteria, such as Spanish-speaking or Spanish decent, were used differently in censuses across the nation. (4))The vast majority of the population lived in the lower half of the lower population, with isolated populations strewn across other counties. During the 1980’s, the Latino population continued to increase, except for Detroit, where the entire city population decreased (5). The reasons for the swell in Latino population were largely due to an increase in the demand for agricultural labor; Mexican laborers moved north from Florida to work the fields in Michigan (6). Overall, the Latino population went from approximately 160,000 to 200,000 during the 1980’s, or about a 25 percent increase. The increase was actually even more significant though, considering the total population of Michigan non-Hispanics actually decreased by 6% during the same period (7).

Economic and Cultural Impacts
By 1990, Latinos made up 2.2 percent of the total population in Michigan, but clearly the population was not distributed evenly across the state. In 1989, the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation was founded in Detroit.  The mission of the MCDC is to “foster economic development in the Hispanic community of Southwest Detroit, known as Mexicantown, as a means of eliminating blight, creating skilled positions for residents of the neighborhood, and providing opportunities of small business development by local entrepreneurs,” (8). The creation of the MCDC was clearly a signal of increasing community involvement and Latino cultural pride. Mexicantown is considered the state’s most visible representation of the Latino population. In 1990, Mexicans made up nearly 70 percent of Latinos in Michigan. The next biggest nationality was Puerto Ricans, comprising only about ten percent of the population (9).
Since their arrival, Latinos have played a significant role in the economies of Michigan. As of 1990, only about 60 percent of Latinos graduated high school, compared to about 80 percent of whites. Latinos were the lowest percentage of any minority group. The lack in education lead to more labor-intensive industries, such as manufacturing, services, retail trade, and agriculture. Out of the entire Michigan Latino population, in 1990 about 20 percent worked in manufacturing, 20 percent in services, 13 percent in retail trade, and only about three percent in agriculture. It seems surprising that of all Michigan Latinos, only three percent work in agriculture, but authors Robert Aponte and Marcelo Siles point out that “agricultural workers are shown to account for only a 3 percent of Latino workers; however, if migrant workers were included (many are not because they are not present in Michigan at the time of the census), that proportion would surely rise.” Overall, in 1990 75.1 percent of Latino males participated in the labor force, while there was 13.4 percent rate of unemployment (10).
Although the Latino condition in Michigan had been improving since their arrival, it has still lagged behind other groups. In 1980, the middle 50 percent of Latinos made between $10,000 and $25,000. Also, about one half of Latino households lived in poverty during this time (11). Unfortunately, many negative assumptions and stereotypes are drawn from statistics representing Latino jobs, income, and education.  It is impossible to know how much of these numbers are actual results of Latino achievement, or the effects of cultural differences and hardships one must face when coming to another country in difficult times. These statistics need to be looked at more as a reflection on societal differences, and less as a comparison or determination of racial attainment.

Latinos in Michigan Today
As Michigan’s auto industry was weakened by increasing economic competition, Latinos began to move from the tradition urban areas to more rural ones, such as the Upper Peninsula and upper Lower Peninsula. The population of Latinos has continued to increase in Michigan, and the Midwest has “browned” in general (the term for Latino migration is the “browning” of an area) (12). As Latinos become more integrated into the mainstream culture, we are also beginning to see move visual representations of them. For example, on October 5, 2007, the Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado opened in Detroit. The project cost $17 million and features a public plaza, the State of Michigan Welcome Center, a public market, and retail market space, among other things (13). Although the Latino people and culture are being increasingly accepted, they still face conditions worse than that of many other races.  A recent article stated that Latinos are more than three times more likely to live in areas with high pollution than other groups. Because of generally poor economic situations, minority groups are often subjected to poorer living standards like this (14).
Latinos in Michigan have come a long way in the last three decades; economically, culturally, and in sheer population size. As the economic landscape of Michigan changes, so to will the role of Latinos in modern society. The population of Latinos in Michigan will surely rise, but it remains to be seen if they will continue to assimilate at their present pace.