10.- The West: first steps

10.1 BEGINNINGS IN CALIFORNIA
California, following its becoming a state in 1848, was the main destination for those migrating west. Many people were coming to seek their fortune. In the second half of the 19th century, Los Angeles and San Francisco were the main destinations for Basques. Los Angeles had a flourishing Basque colony which enjoyed its height from 1880 to 1930. In those years the area around Alameda Street and Aliso Street was home to "the largest and oldest community in the American west, with more first-, second-, and third-generation Basques than any other town or city in the United States."

10.2 WRITTEN TESTIMONIES
The growing community in southern California moved lawyer Martin Biscailuz to create Escualdun Gazeta, the first weekly in the New World in Basque. His efforts were premature and we have to wait until 1893, when this time Jean-Pierre Goytino founded the weekly California'ko Eskual Herria, with considerable success. The latter became a major medium for the exchange of information for the American Basque community. Thanks to the Escualdun Gazeta, and especially Goytino's newspaper, it is possible today to get very useful information regarding the Basque community that otherwise would have been lost, due to the fact that Basques have been traditionally little inclined to leave written records.

11.- Southern California Clubs

11.1 FIRST CLUBS
The tradition of Basques in California was made clear in previous passages, as Basques have been among the inhabitants of California during it entire modern history. In the Los Angeles area there continues to be an active Basque community. In general though, institutionalization by establishing clubs did not occur until well into the 20th century. For example, the Basques of La Puente met in 1940 to form La Puente Handball Club and in 1946 the Southern California Basque Club was founded.

11.2 CHINO AREA BASQUES
Currently the Chino club, founded in 1968, is the most active Basque club in the Los Angeles area. Chino also has one Basque restaurant and three pelota courts. Some of the major businesses are run by different generation Basques. The club's activities include the dance group Gauden Bat, a female choir, the klika, pelota and mus championships, and a full schedule of cultural and festive events.