15 to Oct. 15, is being observed in Dixon with a focus on honoring the
contributions and history of the Hispanic and Latino communities that have
shaped the region for generations. Photo courtesy of María López/Dixon
Historical Society
DIXON, CA (MPG) – Hispanic Heritage
Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is being observed in Dixon with a
focus on honoring the contributions and history of the Hispanic and Latino
communities that have shaped the region for generations.
According to the Smithsonian’s
National Museum of the American Latino, the month-long holiday was first
established as a week-long celebration in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson
and expanded to a month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Notably, Hispanic
Heritage Month aligns with the independence days of several Central American
nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua,
all of which celebrate Sept. 15.
In Dixon, Hispanic history reaches
back to the early California period when the area was under Spanish and later
Mexican rule from 1769 to 1846. According to the Dixon Historical Society, notable
land-grant families such as the Peñas, Vacas, Armijos and Vallejos were among
the early settlers in what are now Solano and Yolo counties. The region
transitioned to U.S. control during the Bear Flag Revolt, and California
achieved statehood in 1850.
Dixon’s Latino and Hispanic
population grew significantly in the 1940s due to the Bracero Program, a United
States-Mexico agreement that brought temporary workers to American farms. Photo
courtesy of María López/Dixon Historical Society
The city’s Latino and Hispanic
population began growing significantly in the 1940s, driven by agricultural
labor opportunities. The Bracero Program, a U.S.-Mexico agreement that brought
temporary workers to American farms, drew many Hispanic families to Dixon.
Another key development was the Dixon Migrant Camp, which opened in 1967 and
relocated to Radio Station Road in 1984, providing seasonal housing and
childcare for migrant farm workers.
Cultural visibility has been a
mainstay of Dixon’s public life, including the annual May Fair Parade, where
Las Charras, or “Mexican horsewomen,” participated in the 2000s.
Local institutions and landmarks
also reflect this heritage. George’s Orange, a former roadside stand on West A
Street, transitioned from selling orange juice and hamburgers in the 1920s to
offering Mexican cuisine under the ownership of the Lozano family and later,
Pedro Torres.
Today, Hispanic and Latino-owned
businesses continue to thrive in Dixon, including Super La Favorita Meat
Market, La Cocina Mexicana, Avila Flooring and Jacky’s Mexican Restaurant.
The Solano Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce supports more than 300 Hispanic-owned businesses in the region and
advocates for economic development, education and civic engagement across
Solano County.
Dixon Public Library is hosting a wrestling
event called Lucha Libro at 4 p.m. Sept. 20. The free event, in honor of
Hispanic Heritage Month, will introduce many Dixonites to the Mexican tradition
of Lucha Libre, which translates to “free fight” in English. Photo courtesy of
Dixon Public Library
To further support this air of
culture and history, the Dixon Public Library is hosting a wrestling event
called Lucha Libro at 4 p.m. Sept. 20. The free event, in honor of Hispanic
Heritage Month, will introduce many Dixonites to the Mexican tradition of Lucha
Libre, which literally translates to “free fight” in English. The show will be
held at the library, 230 N. First St.
With events, partnerships and a
growing legacy, Hispanic Heritage Month in Dixon highlights the lasting impact
and ongoing contributions of its Hispanic community.
