The Salinas Valley and California in 1930sBy Toby Curle

Where is the Salinas Valley?• The Salinas Valley is one of the major valleys and most

productive agricultural regions in California. It is situated west of the San Joaquin Valley and south of San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, Silicon Valley.

Workers• Dust Bowl Migrants settled in the Alisal area to the east of

Salinas where they lived in camps and trailers. They worked in the agricultural industry alongside the Filipinos and other labourers.

Troublesome Times • Wage disputes, strikes and anger were happening in the

Monterey County agricultural industry.• Violence erupted on 15th September 1936 at Main and Gabilan

Streets and then spread.• The strike was eventually called off with the promise that as

many workers be would be rehired.

Other ProjectsOther projects during the 1930’s were: -• a second Armory• the addition of a Tubercular Ward at the County Hospital• the Main Street Underpass• plans for construction of a new Salinas Airport.

Donald Davies who was the City Engineer also asked for a golf course, sewers, parks, a swimming pool, storm drains and a jail. Lots of schools were also built.