Health Status of Mexican-American Children in Texas
Author: Nichols, B.L.
Date Published: 1974
This testimony discusses the health and living conditions of Mexican American children in Texas, especially those living in colonias. Mexican Americans make up 15% of the state's population and 50% of its indigent peoples. Half of these people are of the pediatric age groups. Hidalgo county ranks first in the nation in limber of resident migrants, 20% of the migrant laborers live in the county. Colonias are unincorporated by the adjacent towns which often completely surround them. This purposeful omission evades the corporate responsibility for utilities and sanitation. Hidalgo county is located on the Rio Grande river which marks the U.S. Boundary with Mexico. A total of 85,000 migrant workers make their winter homes in Hidalgo and neighboring Cameron county. The remaining 160,000 seasonal migrants are located in a 200 mile belt which stretches through the Texas plains toward Colorado. In South Texas the migrant workers make up 25% of the population in the heavily populated counties, up to 90% in some of the sparsely settles areas. During the winter season these people live on the income of the previous season, averaging less than $2,000 per family; scattered winter labor in the truck farms of south Texas; and on money borrowed against the next years wages from the migrant labor contractors.
Date Published: 1974
This testimony discusses the health and living conditions of Mexican American children in Texas, especially those living in colonias. Mexican Americans make up 15% of the state's population and 50% of its indigent peoples. Half of these people are of the pediatric age groups. Hidalgo county ranks first in the nation in limber of resident migrants, 20% of the migrant laborers live in the county. Colonias are unincorporated by the adjacent towns which often completely surround them. This purposeful omission evades the corporate responsibility for utilities and sanitation. Hidalgo county is located on the Rio Grande river which marks the U.S. Boundary with Mexico. A total of 85,000 migrant workers make their winter homes in Hidalgo and neighboring Cameron county. The remaining 160,000 seasonal migrants are located in a 200 mile belt which stretches through the Texas plains toward Colorado. In South Texas the migrant workers make up 25% of the population in the heavily populated counties, up to 90% in some of the sparsely settles areas. During the winter season these people live on the income of the previous season, averaging less than $2,000 per family; scattered winter labor in the truck farms of south Texas; and on money borrowed against the next years wages from the migrant labor contractors.
