Snohomish County Council voted 5-0 Wednesday, Sept. 9, to declare Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month. The resolution honors the county's more than 113,000 Hispanic and Latino residents.

Councilmember Nate Nehring sponsored the resolution, and Council Vice Chair Sam Low seconded it. The measure marks the sixth straight year the council has passed such a resolution, the Lynnwood Times reported. It cites U.S. Census Bureau data showing Hispanic and Latino residents make up about 13% of the county's population.

Four speakers addressed the council at the 9 a.m. meeting in the Jackson Board Room at 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.

Snohomish County PUD Commissioner Dr. Julieta Altamirano-Crosby, who came to Washington from Guerrero, Mexico, told the council her story is one among thousands.

"Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor where we come from," Altamirano-Crosby said. "It is also a time to recognize what we are building together."

Gerardo Javier Guiza Vargas, deputy consul of México in Seattle, said Hispanic residents contribute to agriculture, construction, education, science, business and leadership across the county. He described integration as "adding a new sense of belonging" rather than erasing cultural roots.

Luis Fernando Esteban, retired honorary consul of Spain, reflected on a 54-year connection to the area that began when he worked for Iberia Airlines and visited Everett. Paula Madrigal, music director of Orquesta Northwest, also spoke in support.

The vote was unanimous.

The resolution notes that Hispanic Heritage Month dates to 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson established National Hispanic Heritage Week. President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a full month in 1988. Sept. 15 was chosen as the start date to honor the 1821 independence declarations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16, Sept. 18 and Sept. 21.

This year's national theme, selected by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers, is "Together, We Are More." All five council members signed the resolution: Chair Megan Dunn, Vice Chair Low, and Councilmembers Nehring, Jared Mead and Strom Peterson.

Hispanic Heritage Month in Snohomish County runs through Oct. 15.