GOSHEN —

The historic transformation of Ligonier from an all-white community to one with a Hispanic majority can be found in the pages of a newly-released study.

In "Latinos in North Central Indiana," Ligonier is one of four local cities that came under the microscopes of researchers from Goshen College and the University of Notre Dame, who created the study over a three-year period.

What the researchers found in Ligonier was a Hispanic population that, like other residents in Michiana, is struggling to cope with the economic downturn. The Hispanics in Ligonier also have the added pressure of a growing movement in Indiana to adopt laws targeting them.

"The toll of the crisis on the Latino community in Ligonier is compounded by rising anti-immigrant sentiment. According to respondents, the 2006 change to state law that requires a Social Security number or proof of legal status in order to obtain a motor vehicle license has made day-to-day life extremely difficult for undocumented migrants and contributes to a climate of fear in which Latinos increasingly feel as if they are suspects, even if they have not broken the law," the study states.

Demographics

Noble County was almost exclusively white for most of its history, and outside of the Ligonier area it still is, according to the study. Outside the city Hispanics make up less than 5 percent of the population. Inside Ligonier, Hispanics are the majority ethnicity.

Most of the Hispanics in Noble County did not come from somewhere else — they were born in the United States. The study found that 52 percent of the Hispanics in Noble County were born in the United States. Forty-percent of the Hispanics are non-citizens and 7 percent are citizens through naturalization.

Those Hispanics who came from Mexico came mostly from one area, the state of Aguascalientes.

Wages

Hispanics in Noble County earned more money in 1990, 2000 and 2009 than Hispanics in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, according to the study.

Noble County Hispanics had median earnings just above $35,000 back in 1990, but then experienced small jumps in wages. By 2000 Noble County Hispanics had median incomes in the high $30,000s. In 2009 their median incomes rose to about $45,000, according to the study.

Education

Hispanic students in the West Noble School system appear to be fairing better than students in other local communities with Hispanic populations.

The graduation rate for Hispanics in the West Noble system was 80 percent in 2008 and 2009. That rate of graduation is much higher than the rate in Goshen (59 percent), Elkhart (58 percent), South Bend (63 percent) and Concord (75 percent). And the West Noble Hispanic graduation rate beats the graduation rate for whites in Elkhart (77 percent) and South Bend (77 percent).

The educational achievement of West Noble Hispanic students has been made despite the school district spending less per student ($10,900) than what the Goshen ($11,400), Elkhart ($12,500) and South Bend ($12,800) districts spend per student. Also, the student-to-teacher ration at West Noble is higher than the other districts. There are 18 students per teacher at West Noble and South Bend, Elkhart and Goshen each have 16 students per teacher ratios, according to the study.

A conclusion

The study contains a "Discussion and Policy Implications" section. There the researchers wrote, "The Latinos of Elkhart, Noble and St. Joseph counties do face many challenges. As a group they have low income, a high rate of poverty and a low high-school graduation rate."

The researchers reported that despite these challenges, the Latinos of Elkhart, Noble and St. Joseph counties have accomplished much.

"Over half of all Latino households own their own homes," according to the report. "Latinos have provided the labor that has powered Elkhart’s recreational vehicle industry. They have built the buildings that are enabling their communities to grow. They have started businesses that have created jobs. They have filled positions in the services industry that are necessary for the economy to function. They have offset the out-migration this area has experienced since the 1990s as young, educated whites seek better job prospects elsewhere. And they have contributed to the culture with their cuisine, music and art."

The three-volume study can be read at the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning at Goshen College. Or, the study may be purchased for $40 from the center by calling 574-535-7840 or by going to the website at www.goshen.edu.