Latin American/ Latino History
According to the 2010 Census, South Carolina has the second-fastest growing Latino population in the country. Although this demographic shift is recent, Latinos can trace their history in South Carolina as far back as the Spanish settlement of Santa Elena in 1566.
The Citadel’s History Department offers courses and programs that help students, faculty, and staff gain a better understanding of Latino history and culture in South Carolina. Our courses, including the History of the U.S./Mexico Borderlands, Colonial Latin America, and Military Coups & Dictatorships in Latin America, provide historical context for current political, economic, and cultural trends. Our Oral History Program has collected oral histories from the local La
tino community, archiving them in the Lowcountry Digital Library. The History Department also co-sponsors the annual Day of the Dead Altar inside The Citadel’s Daniel Library, and is co-sponsoring the Southeastern Immigration Studies Association’s annual conference in February 2020.
Image (right): Cadets studying Latin American History assist Dr. Aguirre with preparing the Day of the Dead Altar at the Daniel Library.
