By Bronwyn Page
From the Archives
The arrival of Mexican railroad laborers in Hutchinson and Reno County during the early twentieth century marked a significant shift in the region’s cultural and economic landscape. Their migration was part of a broader national pattern shaped by industrial demand, restrictive federal immigration laws and the upheaval of the Mexican Revolution. What began as a labor solution for the railroads ultimately became one of Hutchinson’s most enduring communities.
Between 1900 and 1930, railroads across the Midwest faced mounting labor shortages. A series of federal immigration restrictions passed between 1882 and 1917 sharply reduced the number of workers entering the United States from Asia and parts of Europe. At the same time, the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) destabilized rural economies and displaced families throughout central and northern Mexico. Railroad companies, including the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, turned to Mexican laborers to fill section crews responsible for laying track, repairing lines, and maintaining the infrastructure that kept freight moving through Kansas.
Hutchinson, already a rail hub by the turn of the century, became one of the cities where these workers settled. Early arrivals often lived in temporary housing near the rail yards, but as families joined them, settlements became permanent. By the 1920s, Kansas had one of the largest Mexican American populations in the Midwest, and Hutchinson’s growing community reflected that trend. Mexican workers contributed not only to the railroads but also to salt mining, agriculture and local industry, forming a labor force essential to the region’s development.
Out of this settlement grew SW Bricktown, the neighborhood that became the cultural and social center of Hutchinson’s Mexican American population. The area’s name reflects the brick homes and businesses built by residents who invested in the neighborhood’s future. Bricktown developed gradually as workers sought stability close to their employers and one another.
In 1927, the community established Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church at the intersection of Avenue E and Adams. The parish quickly became a cornerstone of neighborhood life, offering religious services, cultural celebrations and a gathering place for families navigating life in a new country. Baptisms, feast days and community events reinforced traditions that connected residents to their heritage. Even after the parish relocated to South Hutchinson in 1965, its historical significance to Bricktown remained central.
Over the decades, Mexican American residents shaped Hutchinson through labor, entrepreneurship, civic participation and cultural continuity. Their children and grandchildren entered local schools, businesses, and public service, weaving their story into the broader narrative of Reno County. Today, SW Bricktown remains one of Hutchinson’s most culturally distinct neighborhoods, with a Hispanic and Latino population far above the citywide average.
The neighborhood’s history continues to be celebrated at the SW Bricktown Fiesta, held annually during National Hispanic Heritage Month. This year’s event will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, beginning at 5 p.m. at SW Bricktown Park. The Fiesta features traditional Mexican food, live music, dancing, artisan vendors, children’s activities and Día de los Muertos altars honoring loved ones. Proceeds support neighborhood improvements and youth programs, continuing the tradition of community investment that has defined Bricktown for generations.
More than a century after Mexican railroad workers first arrived in Hutchinson, their legacy endures in the neighborhood they built, the families who remained, and the cultural traditions that continue to thrive. SW Bricktown stands as a testament to resilience, heritage, and the lasting contributions of the Mexican American community to Reno County.
Bronwyn Page is the director of operations at the Reno County Museum. She can be reached at bronwyn@renocomuseum.org.