Immigration and emigration are the foundation of Iowa’s development.
After 1890, factory jobs began to attract immigrants to Iowa. Initial
labor demands had been filled by local farmers and transient laborers.
 By
1920 the city of Waterloo, Iowa had attracted immigrants from twenty
nations, and by 1925, 12% of the city’s population had been
born in another country.
Tradition and skills drew immigrant groups to different trades: many
Italians worked at the railroad shops; many Danes, Germans, and Irish
were employed by meat-packing and farm equipment manufacturers; many
Greeks and Mexicans worked in construction and paving; many Croatians
and Bulgarians went to machine shops and foundries.
New arrivals lived in neighborhoods close to factories and streetcar
lines. These neighborhoods became a blend of languages, traditions,
ethnic dress and customs, and exotic foods. Immigrants’ skills,
so important to the success of Waterloo industries, tied these newcomers
to each other and to the community.
Read and listen to the stories of six immigrants who came to Waterloo.
As you listen to their stories and experiences think about the key
questions:
- What was their ethnic origin?
- Where did they come from?
- Why did they come to Waterloo?
- Where did they work?
- Where did they live?
- What aspects of their culture did they bring with them?
Then build a graphic organizer to compare
and contrast their experiences.
Click on the voices and pretend that you are
hearing these voices on local streets earlier in the century, reflecting
the many cultures that have influenced this area.
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