Hispanics and Latinos in California

Hispanics and Latinos in California are people who live in the state of California and have full or partial Hispanic or Latino ancestry. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, about 39.4% of all people in California belong to this group, making it the largest ethnic group in the state.

The term Californios is used to describe the Californian Hispanic community, which has a long history dating back to 1683. Most Californios have roots in Spanish and Mexican cultures and come from mixed European and Amerindian backgrounds. Many identify as Mexican Americans or as Chicanos.

History

See also: History of California

Hispanic people have lived in California since the first Europeans arrived. In 1542, an explorer named João Rodrigues Cabrilho (Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo) sailed along the California coast. He worked for the leader of what is now Mexico.

Later, Spain claimed California and split it into two parts: Baja California and Alta California. In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain, and Alta California became part of Mexico. But Mexico could not control the area well. In 1846, the United States took over California.

The California Gold Rush in 1848 brought many people to the state, including many from Mexico, Chile, Peru, and China. Later, during a big war in Mexico, many people fled to California, including some Chinese Mexicans.

In the early 1930s, the United States sent many people of Mexican descent back to Mexico. During the 1960s, Mexican-American farm workers fought for better rights and pay. Leaders like César Chávez and Dolores Huerta helped start a big strike and boycott to protect workers' rights.

Demographics

See also: List of California communities with Hispanic majority populations in the 2010 census

Spanish is the second most spoken language in California. Many Spanish speakers live in areas like the Los Angeles metropolitan area, San Bernardino, Riverside, and near the California-Mexico border. Mexican Americans are the largest Hispanic group in half of California's counties.

About 38% of California's people are Hispanic, making it the state with the most Hispanics in the United States. Many live in Southern California, especially in Los Angeles, and in the San Joaquin Valley. Los Angeles has one of the largest Mexican communities in the country. The number of Hispanics in California grew quickly in the late 20th century, and today they are the largest ethnic group in Los Angeles County.

Hispanics live in many parts of California, including Santa Ana, Anaheim, Imperial Valley, Central Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Most have Mexican ancestry, but there are also people from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

In Mariposa County, a small community called "Californios" has lived there since before California joined the United States. The town of Hornitos has about 1,000 people who identify as Californio and share a culture linked to Mexico and other Hispanic countries.

Spanish language in California

Main article: Spanish language in California

In 2010, about 28.46% of people in California who were 5 years old or older spoke Spanish at home as their main language. This makes California the second state in the United States with the most Spanish speakers.

California’s first constitution in 1849 said that important laws should be published in both English and Spanish. By 1870, most people spoke English, and a new constitution in 1879 said that all official work must be done only in English. This rule stayed until 1966. In 1986, voters added a rule saying that English is the official language of California. Even so, Spanish is still widely used. Many government forms and services are available in both English and Spanish. If someone charged with a crime doesn’t understand English, they have the right to an interpreter during the court process.

Historic Hispanic/Latino population

The Hispanic and Latino community in California has a long history, dating back to 1683. Many people in this group come from Spanish and Mexican backgrounds, and they include people with both European and Native American ancestry.

California	Number of people of Mexican Origin (1910-1930) and of Hispanic/Latino Origin (1940-2020) in California[a]	+% of Population of Mexican Origin (1910-1930) and of Hispanic/Latino Origin (1940-2020) in California
1850	15,000	15% of the Non-Amerindian population/ 17%
1860	N/A	N/A
1870	22,409	4%
1880	42,311	N/A
1890	48,535	4%
1900	47,112	N/A
1910	49,928 - 82,217	2.1%
1920	126,793 - 155,085	3.7%
1930	386,053 - 419,309	6.8%
1940	415,113	6.0%
1950	762,208	7.2%
1960	1,430,265	9.1%
1970	2,738,513 (15% sample)	13.7%
1980	4,544,331	19.2%
1990	7,687,938	25.8%
2000	10,966,556	32.4%
2010	14,013,719	37.6%
2020	15,579,652	39.4%