Dodge City’s Immigrant History

Pre-Colonial

Before European explorers claimed land for their various nations, Indigenous peoples inhabited and cared for the land now known as the United States for many thousands of years. Dodge City and Kansas was and is home to various Indigenous nations including the Kaw, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, Comanche, and Ute tribes.

Five Flags

Dodge City was not always governed by the United States. Under the Doctrine of Discovery, European nations could seize the land, possessions, and even the people of territories not inhabited by Christians. Through this international law and subsequent treaties, Dodge City was governed under the flags of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and eventually the United States.

Click the photo to learn more about Dodge City’s Five Flags history. This video was made possible through a grant from Humanities Kansas.

Five Flags

La Yarda / The Mexican Village

La Yarda, also known as the Mexican Village, was a city within a city that came about with the creation of the Santa Fe Railroad. Following the original Santa Fe Trail, which cut through Dodge City, the Railroad relied upon Mexican workers to provide labor in exchange for housing near the railroad tracks. From these few houses, a village of Mexican immigrants and their families was created and flourished until its demolition in the 1950s.

Click on the images below to hear from descendents of La Yarda.

Teresa Torres Mendez, descendent of la Yarda
Alejandro Rey Ramirez, descendent of la Yarda
Teresa Torres, descendent of la Yarda
Black/white images of residents of la Yarda over white text that reads "A Place in Time"

Learn more about La Yarda and the Mexican Village Historic Preservation Project by visiting the permanent exhibit at Boot Hill Museum.

Present

With the establishment of the cattle industry and beef packing plants, Dodge City’s population continues to grow in diversity. The U.S. Census estimates the city’s population is 65% Latino/a and that 55.5% of the population speaks a language other than English at home.

The city’s culture and diversity can be seen everyday throughout the community. Businesses, nonprofits, and schools come together to support newcomers. Diversity has always been in Dodge City and will continue to be welcomed and celebrated.

Learn more about the United States’s immigrant history.

Population chart