When ethnic Mexican farm workers led by Cesar Chavez joined with Filipino American workers led by Larry Itliong in 1965 to strike grape growers in Delano, California, the modern farm workers movement was born. Operating initially as the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee and later as the UFW, the union spread beyond California as it launched a national grape boycott and inspired farm worker organizing in other states. Researched by Katie Anastas, these maps show the geography of UFW activism, locating more than 1,000 farm worker strikes, boycotts, and other actions (see sources below). The maps are hosted by Tableau Public and may take a few seconds to respond. If slow, refresh the page. Here is a timeline describing each event and an essay summarizing the geography of the UFW.

Move between four maps and a timeline by selecting tabs below

Sources: El Macriado, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Seattle Times

Methods note: This database is in progress and is not necessarily geographically representative. We have gathered information from the sources listed above, each of which had agendas that shaped how and what it covered. "Titles" are in almost all cases taken directly from the source. "Dates" are the date of the publication. "Descriptions" were written by Katherine Anastas. "Event types" are loose categories we have assigned. Categories often overlap.

Additional UFW maps and charts

Click to see interactive timeline of FW strikes, boycotts, and other actions 1965-1975Timeline of UFW actions 1965-1975

This timeline records more than 1000 UFW and farm worker actions as reported in El Macriado, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Seattle Times, and other sources.

Click to read Geographic History of UFWGeographic History of the UFW

By Katie Anastas

This short essay summarizes the changing geography of UFW actions from 1965 to 1975 based on the database of news reports in El Macriado, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Seattle Times, and other sources.