People
Portuguese in the Valley
Between 1900 and 1940, up to one-half “of the entire Portuguese community in California owned or operated a producing dairy, worked on a producing dairy, or worked in one of the many industries that existed in support of dairying.”
Portrait
of three children in Holy Ghost Festa costumes, c. 1940 The Santa Clara Valley was a particularly appropriate choice for many Portuguese immigrants wishing to make a home in California. The thriving agricultural industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries virtually guaranteed a job with a decent wage for anyone willing to work. Land was affordable and available to people with funds or loans. Once a few Portuguese immigrants gained a foothold in the San Francisco Bay Area, it was only logical for their family members and home-country neighbors to follow. At the time Manuel Azevedo arrived in California, fully 60% of the state’s Portuguese lived in the Bay Area.
Upon their arrival, Portuguese immigrants immediately tapped into the community’s network to find housing, jobs, and churches. The Holy Ghost Festivals – presented by Portuguese communities throughout the spring and summer – gave newcomers access to a ready-made network, as Portuguese from throughout the area gathered to celebrate.
With so many Portuguese-Americans working in the dairy industry, newcomers like Manuel Azevedo easily found their way into the business as well. In fact, Portuguese immigrants controlled 50% of the state’s dairy industry by the 1930s. With a small initial investment – like the one Manuel Azevedo made – a man could lease land, purchase a few cows, and make a decent living. By applying the Portuguese belief in hard work and thrift – and with the additional labor of a wife and children – a man could earn enough to re-invest in his business, buying land and dairy cows to increase his holdings and his profit margin.
For more information about the Portuguese in California, visit the Portuguese Heritage Society of California.
