Mexican-American Immigrants working in the sugar beet fields
Diversity of Garden City
Over the years many ethnic groups have came to Garden City in search of a better life. Some came in search for jobs that provided better wages. Other groups came to avoid military services in their countries. While others came here to seek refuge.
Mexican-Americans
The reason why Mexican-Americans came to Garden City, KS was in search of a better life and also for more jobs. Some of the wages that the Mexican-Americans received in Mexico were only 49 cents an hour! In 1906 many came to work in Garden City in the Sugar Beet Factory and fields. They also worked on the Santa Fe Railroad and to work in the beef packing plants. The brick streets in downtown Garden City were laid by the Mexican-Americans for only 90 cents an hour.
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Mexican-American Immigrants working in the sugar beet fields |
Southeast-Asian
In 1975 the Southeast-Asians came to Garden City to seek refuge and for a better life. They come in search of more jobs they needed also somewhere to live and a way to learn English. The first refugees were Military Officers, professors and doctors.
German-Russians
The German-Russians brought truck loads of what they called "Turkey" winter wheat. It resisted winter kill and disease when other wheat did not. They also built flour mills in Garden City. Some came to Garden City in 1872 to avoid military service and worked in the sugar beet fields. Many of them were Mennonites.
African-Americans
African - Americans were treated differently because of their skin color. The population of the African American dwindled because they were never given enough employment opportunities and had to seek work else where. The cultural mix and racism at times fueled flames of division in Garden City.