California's irrigation frontier and Japanese immigrants

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This study attempted to examine Japanese immigrants and their farming activities in California in the context of irrigation development and intensive farming. Looking at the late nineteenth century through the 1920s, irrigation frontiers of western United States were examined based on the US Census. By analyzing the perceived image of California in the late nineteenth century, the advent of irrigation age was presented. Northern San Joaquin Valley was chosen for case studies, which examined the formation of irrigation districts based on the Wright Act of 1887, subdivision of large landholdings, development of intensive farming including dairy, fruits, and grapes. Colonization and settlement of Japanese immigrants were compared and contrasted with those of Swedish and Portuguese immigrants. These analyses combineto depict and explain dynamic transformation processes of farming and community on the irrigation frontier from a viewpoint which differs substantially from the conventional standpoint of the majority.The present study contributed to the accumulation of case studies on irrigation frontiers of western United States, while it verified that the research strategy adopted in this study, i.e. viewing irrigation frontier by way of immigrants, is valid and important. Our findings will also be an addition to ethnic studies of the United State.