Publication Date

Spring 2025

Document Type

Student Project

First Advisor

Fogleman, Aaron

Degree Name

B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)

Department

Department of History

Abstract

This research examines how labor opportunities in Aurora, Illinois, between 1920 and 1940 shaped the growth and development of the Mexican community. Using U.S. census data from 1920, 1930, and 1940, historical city maps, oral histories, and special agent reports, the project traces employment patterns across three distinct waves of migration. It explores the role of industries such as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, the Cotton Mill, and New Deal initiatives like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and National Youth Administration (NYA) in the formation and growth of the Mexican community. The findings reveal that labor not only shaped economic stability but also influenced residential patterns, community cohesion, and generational settlement in Aurora. The study highlights how those without ties to the railroad or other labor sectors began settling farther from the center, illustrating how employment patterns influenced the community’s spatial organization. By uncovering these early developments of the Mexican community in Aurora, this research contributes to broader discussions of Mexican migration in the Midwest and reflects on the intersections of race, labor, and urban development in twentieth-century America.

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