Emigration from Teruel, Spain, to California in the Early Twentieth Century

This article examines the pattern of emigration from the Spanish province of Teruel to California during the first third of the twentieth century. It is based on oral interviews and written sources in both Spain and the United States and on significant detective work. The resulting demographic profile of emigrants from Teruel indicates the significance of the emigration phenomenon, and reveals the origins, transportation and admissions challenges, and the destinations of individuals who moved to California for work. In addition, it sheds light on the reasons that motivated hundreds of people from Teruel, known as Turolenses in Spanish, to leave their place of origin and travel thousands of miles by sea and land to California in search of a better future for themselves and their families. This is a timely article, marking the centenary of the largest emigration from Teruel to North America.