BNSF Today

Hispanics Have Strong Ties to the Railroad Industry

2006-10-13

The relationship between the Hispanic community and the American railroad industry dates back to when railroads began operating in the Southwest of the United States. At the beginning of the 21st century, the relationship remains healthy and Hispanics continue contributing to the dynamic growth of the railroad industry. However, it has been a mutually beneficial relationship that has not been without its share of difficulties.

It was a popular notion that Hispanic laborers worked mainly in agriculture in the latter part of the18th century, but it is a fact that most of the railway construction and maintenance in southern California, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona was done by Hispanic immigrants mostly from Mexico. For the most part, Hispanic laborers were willing to work for a lower wage than other immigrants.

Railroad work at the time was dangerous and strenuous, but it also offered stable income in contrast to seasonal agricultural work.

In the early decades of the 20th century, the expansion of the railroad took Hispanics from original settlements in the Southwest to communities in cities as far away as Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Kan., Minneapolis, Minn., and, most importantly, Chicago.

The origins of the Hispanic community in Chicago can be directly traced back to 1916 and the recruitment of 200 railroad track workers from the Mexico-Texas border.

The 1920 U.S. Census in the city counted 1,200 Hispanics, most of whom worked for the railroad and steel plants. In the 1930s, Hispanics were thought of as farm laborers, but for the first time the U.S. Census classified more than half of the Hispanic population in the United States as urban. Nationwide, only 40.5 percent were employed in agriculture. In the Midwest, the proportion of urban dwellers was even higher and 57 percent of employed male Hispanics worked for the railroad and other transportation industries.

During World War I and II, Hispanics contributed to the war effort by either filling jobs of men who had left to serve or by serving in the U.S. military.

With time, Hispanic immigrants and Hispanic-Americans began climbing the railroad career ladder into skilled positions such as conductors, engineers and machinists.

Hispanics have also played important roles in government agencies related to the railroad industry such as the Railroad Commission of Texas where two prominent Hispanics, Tony Garza and Lena Guerrero, have been commissioners. In fact, Guerrero was also the first woman ever elected to this post.

Provided by: The Hispanic Leadership Council at BNSF in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 – Oct. 15.

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