To see signs of Hispanic & Latino Heritage in the Pacific Northwest, note the place names: Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands, Fidalgo Island, Port Angeles. The presence of Spanish-speaking peoples in Washington State stretches back centuries, beginning with the earliest voyages to the Pacific Northwest. From Mexican explorers and mule packers to braceros, farmworkers, civil rights activists, and political leaders, Latinos have helped shape Washington’s economy, culture, and identity. Today, Latinos are the largest minority ethnic group in the state, and their history reveals both the struggles and triumphs of building community in the face of adversity.
Did you know Latino history in Washington predates the United States itself? In 1774, Captain Juan Pérez Hernandez led the first recorded Spanish expedition to the region, sailing from Mexico (called New Spain at the time). Over the next two decades, Spanish ships crewed by mostly Mexican sailors charted the coastlines, mapped harbors, and documented plants and animals. Naturalists like José Mariano Mociño and Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy contributed scientific knowledge that remains significant today.
In the 19th century, Latinos participated in Washington’s early economic development. Mexican mule packers played a crucial role in transporting supplies to gold mining camps before railroads reached the area. These packers, often overlooked in mainstream histories, were essential to the success of the mining frontier. By the time Washington achieved statehood in 1889, Latinos and their culture had already left their mark.
In the 20th century, when agriculture reshaped Washington’s economy, Latino settlement increased significantly. During World War II, the federal government launched the Bracero Program to address labor shortages. From 1942 to 1947, thousands of Mexican men came to Washington as contract workers, harvesting sugar beets, apples, hops, and asparagus. Conditions were often harsh. Braceros lived in crowded, makeshift camps with little access to clean water or medical care. Pay was low, and discrimination was common. Yet despite these hardships, many braceros returned after their contracts ended, and some stayed, bringing their families and laying the foundation for permanent Latino communities.
After the Bracero Program ended in 1964, Latino migration continued through family networks and word-of-mouth recruitment. Families began to settle permanently in Eastern Washington, particularly in the Yakima Valley, Pasco, Wapato, and Sunnyside. Communities grew around shared institutions: Catholic parishes offering Spanish Mass, bilingual schools, community halls, and small businesses. By the 1970s, Latinos were no longer seasonal laborers but neighbors, homeowners, and civic participants. Still, challenges remained. Housing was often substandard, with migrant camps lacking running water or electricity. Discrimination in schools contributed to high dropout rates among Latino youth. These inequities gave rise to activism and community organizing.
The late 1960s and 1970s brought the energy of the Chicano Movement to Washington. Inspired by César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and the United Farm Workers, Latino farmworkers and students mobilized to demand rights and recognition. In the Yakima Valley, farmworkers staged strikes for higher wages and safer working conditions. In Seattle, Latino students at the University of Washington organized groups like UMAS and MEChA to demand bilingual education, Chicano Studies, and support services for students of color. In 1972, community activists led by Roberto Maestas transformed an abandoned school building in Seattle into El Centro de la Raza, which became a hub for civil rights, education, and cultural celebration. In 1978, Sea Mar Community Health Centers was founded to address the lack of affordable, culturally competent healthcare for farmworkers and low-income Latino families. These organizations not only provided services but also built pride, identity, and political power.
By 1980, Washington’s Latino population had reached 118,432. Twenty-five years later, it had grown to 549,774, an increase of nearly 365%. Today, Latinos make up more than 13% of Washington’s population, with large communities in Yakima, Pasco, Sunnyside, Wenatchee, and also in urban centers like Seattle and Tacoma. This growth brought new cultural vitality. Annual Fiestas Patrias celebrations in Seattle and across the state honor Mexican independence and heritage. Spanish-language radio and newspapers flourished, giving Latinos a stronger public voice. Panaderías, taquerías, and Latino-owned businesses became fixtures in many neighborhoods. In towns like Wapato and Sunnyside, Latinos moved from being primarily farmworkers to farm & business owners, educators, and civic leaders. Latino leaders have also gained visibility in Washington politics. Elected officials such as Senators Rebecca Saldaña, Nikki Torres, Javier Valdez, Bill Ramos, and Emily Alvarado and Representatives Alex Ybarra, Tarra Simmons, and Julio Cortés bring Latino voices to the state legislature. In Yakima and Pasco, Latino candidates have won city council seats, mayorships, and school board positions, reflecting changing demographics.
Immigration issues have remained central throughout. In 2006, thousands marched in Seattle and Yakima to protest federal immigration reform proposals and call for immigrant rights. Programs like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) have allowed young Latinos to study and work legally, though court challenges about immigration policy continue to weigh on families. Farmworker organizing has also grown stronger. Groups like Familias Unidas por la Justicia have led strikes and negotiations for fair wages, safer conditions, and union recognition, echoing the struggles of earlier generations of activists.
These broader struggles are reflected in the lived experiences of community members today. TRL staff member Korinne B. shares:
“My abuelo was born in the U.S., but him and his family were forced to move back to Mexico during the Mexican Repatriation in the 1930s. As an adult, my abuelo was able to return to the U.S. to work for the railroad and support his family back home. This eventually allowed for my abuela to come with their children—my mom and her siblings—to the United States to be reunited as a family. The move to the United States allowed my mom and siblings to access more opportunities, but that still came with challenges and discrimination based on their immigration status and their ethnicity. All of this, though, has given the grandchildren—me and my cousins—access to so many opportunities that our parents and grandparents did not have.”
The history of Latinos in Washington State is central to the state’s past and future. From the sailors of Spanish expeditions to the braceros in hop fields, from Chicano activists in Seattle to Latino legislators in Olympia, Latinos remain essential to shaping an inclusive and thriving state. Honoring this history means both celebrating achievements and addressing ongoing inequities to ensure the future.
Find Spanish language resources and learn more at your local Timberland Library!
Online Resources in Spanish/ Recursos electrónicos en Español - requiere una targeta de la biblioteca
- Adult Core Skills & Citizenship Exam Preparation/Prepárese para su Examen de Ciudadanía
- CareerCruising/Aprender acerca de las ocupaciones & opciones de educación
- Gale OneFile: Informe Académico - Full-text articles from Spanish-language magazines and journals./Una colección de revistas y revistas académicas en español y portugués de texto completo sobre América Latina. Busque temas como negocios, salud, tecnología, cultura y más.
- Mango Languages – Learn to speak Spanish, English, or any of 70+ languages/Aprende ingles, español, y mas de 70 otros idiomás
-
¡Y mucho más!
Celebrate Hispanic American Heritage Month with powerful stories for adults by and about Hispanic voices, culture, and contributions.
Celebrate Hispanic American Heritage Month with powerful stories for teens by and about Hispanic voices, culture, and contributions.
Celebrate Hispanic American Heritage Month with powerful stories for kids by and about Hispanic voices, culture, and contributions!
