Santa Ana Barrios, California, is widely recognized by its numerous Latino

Latino

The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...

 population. Of this Latino population, the large majority is of Mexican descent. The city's overall ethnic makeup is in fact diverse and there is diversity within its Mexican American

Mexican American

Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...

 population. In the case of Mexican Americans, there are a large number of first generation Mexican Americans, that is, migrant residents. After this group come their descendants and subsequent generation levels.

Latinos live throughout the city. There are many activities throughout the year that celebrate this culture. On September 15, Mexico's Independence Day, downtown Santa Ana is transformed into a delightful "Festival of the Americas" with many Mexican traditions observed including mariachi

Mariachi

Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...

 bands and folk dancers. There is a huge sense of culture within the Santa Ana community. Also, "Voice of the People" speeches are given on Cesar Chavez Day

César Chávez

César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....

 in honor of his hard work and dedication to Latino rights.

Another recognition of the Latino presence in Santa Ana is the school district's Spanish program K-5.Because of the high immigrant illiteracy rate in Santa Ana, many elementary schools

Primary education

A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...

also offer free English courses to those unable to attend school because of their age or language barriers.