other immigrant communities is
not noticeable in West Liberty.
2000
2010
# Change % Change 2010 % of total
One of the best examples of
population
Iowa
the community’s integration of
immigrants in West Liberty is
Total Iowa population 2,926,324 3,046,355 120,031
4%
100%
the school district, which has a
Iowa Hispanic population 82,473
151,544 69,071
84%
5%
growing enrollment and boasts
Iowa foreign-born
91,085
133,547 42,462
47%
4%
a Spanish/English dual language
population*
program. This facet of West Lib Iowa white population 2,781,561 2,748,640 32,921
1%
91%
erty’s cultural integration also has
an economic impact, according
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, The Hispanic Population 2010, May 2011; Census Viewer Population of Iowa: Census
2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts; MPI Data Hub, Iowa Social & Demographic
to Superintendent Steve Hanson.
Characteristics.
“If we were a district that didn’t
*Data for foreign-born from 2000 and 2011.
have industry supported by
economic life. “In the last 20-30 years we would have had immigrants we would most likely have declining enrollment
a population decline if we hadn’t had immigrants come in which means we would have less and less money and be
to take jobs in the food manufacturing business,” said Steve able to employ fewer and fewer teachers and other school
Hanson, superintendent of West Liberty Community School employees,” Hanson said. “The school in rural Iowa is [one
District. “They provide a source of labor that wouldn’t have of] the largest…employers and if you have fewer students you
been there.” Although political integration lags behind eco- have fewer jobs.”
The integration of immigrants isn’t perfect. And while
nomic integration, it is increasing. In February 2012 Jose
West Liberty has largely succeeded in integrating immiZacarias, who emigrated from Mexico to Iowa in 1984,
grants to the benefit of the local economy, not all residents
became the first Latino on the West Liberty City Council.
West Liberty is home to West Liberty Foods, which are happy with its transformation into a minority-majority
employs 850 people and is only one of several food processing town. “There’s two West Liberty’s,” Father Greg Steckel said.
companies [