Why Mexicans Settled in Chicago's Pilsen Neighborhood

Mexican arrival in Pilsen began in the early 1900s, primarily from Zacatecas, Jalisco, and Guanajuato. Key drivers:

• Industrial Demand: Factories and steel mills sought cheap labor; Mexicans accepted lower wages.
• Political Turmoil in Mexico: Revolution and instability (1910s onward) pushed families north.
• Community Formation: Growing Mexican population created a cultural enclave; by the 1930s, they were the majority in Pilsen.

Today, Pilsen is a vibrant Mexican-American hub known for art, cuisine, and the annual Cinco de Mayo festival.