The Impact of Immigration on Twenty-First Century America - Changing America

In a series of articles published in late 2003, S. Lynne Walker chronicled the reopening of a large meat-packing company in Beardstown, Illinois, a town of 7,000 people ("Beardstown: Reflection of a Changing America," State Journal-Register, November 9–November 12, 2003). The revived industry brought not only jobs for local residents but an influx of immigrants, mostly from Mexico. Suddenly the local school was faced with students who did not speak English and a Catholic church had requests for a Spanish-speaking priest. Local people resented the newcomers who were "different" and some locals moved away. Mexican families missed familiar goods and services. Over time the makeup of the mostly white Midwestern community became 30% Hispanic. Eventually the disparate populations learned to coexist, and in some cases even appreciate their diversity. For better or worse, the town was forever changed.