These Are the Most Latino Cities in Every US State

97% of East Los Angeles is Hispanic or Latino. Although that number is staggering, it's not surprising that the most Hispanic city in the US is in California.

There are Latino-heavy communities in more unexpected parts of the country. For instance, the town of Lawrence, Massachusetts, is 79% Latino, a percentage comparable to El Paso, Texas. A significant portion of the Latino population in the state is Brazilian. How does a Brazilian community in the middle of cold New England start, and what keeps bringing immigrants to join it?

Often, a simple relationship between specific parts of two countries can spark a wave of migration. For instance, Brazil's cultural exchanges with Massachusetts started during World War II, when Boston Engineers went to Minas Gerais for work. Relationships between Engineers and the locals encouraged some Brazilians to venture out and study or work in the state of Massachusetts, giving birth to a community that has only grown stronger recently.

In other cases, waves of migration have occurred due to labor recruitment. The town of Pasco, Washington, in a state that borders Canada, is 57% Latino. The strong Mexican presence is attributed to the state's vital agricultural sector, a need for extensive labor, and the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. Today, Pasco residents celebrate the Fiery Foods Festival, where they display spicy foods of all varieties.

Fueled by the initial brave few that embark on chasing the "American Dream," communities grab momentum. Their support network is compelling for subsequent migrants seeking a better life or escaping dire conditions back home.

On the other extreme is a place like Fargo, North Dakota, where only 3% of its residents are Latino. But even in North Dakota, Latinos are a quickly growing demographic — their share of the population doubled from 2010 to 2020.