In Iowa town immigrants transformed, hope outweighs fear (Reuters)

[cyberswede]

Interesting article on the positive effects immigration has had on one small eastern Iowa town. Ignore the hateful comments. ;)

In Iowa town immigrants transformed, hope outweighs fear

(West Liberty) The Hispanic population in this small town in eastern Iowa has surged in recent years as immigrants from Latin America have come to work in a local turkey slaughterhouse.

In 2010, the town's many Hispanic residents officially grew to 52 percent of West Liberty's population, according to the U.S. Census. That made the town of 3,700 people the first white-minority community this overwhelmingly Caucasian state has seen in nearly 100 years.

Yet while immigration-driven demographic change elsewhere in the country has often sparked fear and reaction, residents say the transformation has occurred relatively amicably, without triggering the concern and punitive policy-making seen in places like Arizona and Indiana.

"The people are united in West Liberty," said Cruz Martinez, 42, who grew up in town and now volunteers at the Diversity Service Center Of Iowa in nearby Muscatine, which advocates on behalf of immigrants.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/20/us-iowa-hispanic-town-idUSTRE76J6JI20110720

[pampango]

1. "The average Anglo here has no problem with us and we have no problem with them."

"But overall, Hispanic residents say they feel welcomed, understood and valued in West Liberty -- though politically they remain outsiders with control of the city council and the board of education firmly in white hands.

"The community itself - the relationship between the Anglos and the Hispanics -- is great," said Garcia. "The average Anglo here has no problem with us and we have no problem with them."

The accommodation that has apparently been reached in West Liberty ultimately just makes economic sense, says Rene Rocha, a political scientist at the University of Iowa.

While true integration may take time in small towns like West Liberty, economic integration in these unusual diverse rural communities happens very quickly."

That is good news. :)

[gratuitous]

2. Like the Irish before them

Political change will come a little more slowly than the demographic change, but it will come as the Hispanic population grows more prosperous.

[jwirr]

3. If I am thinking of the right community, this is a Quaker community and

as usual they come down on the right side of an issue.

[cyberswede]

6. You may be thinking of West Branch

There is a Friends Meeting House there (not in West Liberty, the town in the article). Though it looks like West Liberty is coming down on the right side of this issue. :)

[jwirr]

7. Visited West Branch (Hoover Library) when I was in college in Iowa

City but forgot the name. Thanks.

[JDPriestly]

4. Iowans can be wonderful. Generous and down-to-earth.

Why they like Michelle Bachmann is utterly beyond me.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rurallib]

8. maybe the only small town in iowa that grew last decade

that is not directly involved with a major city. A most interesting place.