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Into the Twenty First Century Every decade in the twentieth century has introduced new challenges and new opportunities to the immigrant communities of Indiana, both those who had recently arrived and those whose ancestors were foreign-born. From the Depression in the 1930s through World War II in the 1940s, the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s to cycles of economic hardship and prosperity in the 1970s and 1980s - each era has both impacted the lives of Indiana's newcomers and been enriched by the rich ethnic heritage of this state. For details about specific immigration patterns in the twentieth century (by region and ethnic community), click on Facts. German-Americans continue to make up the largest ethnic group in Indiana. African-Americans, while still a relatively small community in central and southern Indiana, have made a strong impact on this state for more than 200 years. There has also been a remarkable increase especially of Latina/o and Asian populations during the thirty years; by the year 2030, it's estimated that Latina/os will make up the largest minority group in the United States. For more information about the histories of specific immigrant groups in Indiana, click on Community.
Tolerance and equity are still ideals we struggle to achieve. Some centuries-old patterns persist; for example, wages for new immigrant communities - especially people of Mexican descent working in service industries or in the migrant camps in Indiana farmlands - continue to be significantly lower than that of any other ethnic group in the state, despite the fact that Latina/os in the 1990s comprised the fastest growing minority group in Indiana. Responses to immigration remain uneven, especially as factories close throughout the state and economic hardships emerge.
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