Czech Americans
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2023) |
Related ethnic groups | |
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Other Czechs • Moravians • Czech Jews • Texan Silesians • Slovak Americans • Sorbian Americans • Austrian Americans • Polish Americans • Kashubian Americans |
Year | Number |
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1980[2] | 1,892,456
|
1990[3] | 1,296,411
|
2000[4] | 1,262,527
|
2010[5] | 1,533,826
|
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Czechs |
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Czech Americans (
History
The first documented case of the entry of
There was another Bohemian living in New Amsterdam at that time,
The first significant wave of Czech colonists was of the
This group started coming in 1735, when they first settled in Savannah, Georgia, and then in Pennsylvania, from which they spread to other states after the American Revolution, especially Ohio. The Moravians established a number of settlements, such as Bethlehem and Lititz in Pennsylvania and Salem in North Carolina. Moravians made great contributions to the growth and development of the United States. Cultural contributions of Moravian Brethren from the Czech lands were distinctly notable in the realm of music. The trumpets and horns used by the Moravians in Georgia are the first evidence of Moravian instrumental music in America.
In 1776, at the time of the
Immigration resumed and reached a peak in 1907, when 13,554 Czechs entered the eastern ports. Unlike previous immigration, new immigrants were predominantly
By 1910, the Czech population was 349,000, and by 1940 it was 1,764,000. The U.S. Bureau of the Census reported that nearly 800,000 Czechs were residing in the U.S. in 1970. Since that figure did not include Czechs who had been living in the U.S. for several generations, it is reasonable to assume that the actual number was higher. Additionally, Czech immigrants in America often had different claims of origin in records. Before 1918, many Czechs would be listed as from Bohemia or Moravia or vaguely Austria or Silesia.[8] Some were also counted as from Germany if they were German-speakers or rarely Polish if the recorder could not distinguish the language.[9][10] Slovaks were often listed as from Hungary.[11] After the formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, Czechs and Slovaks were also listed under the new blanket category.[12]
The Czech American community gained a high public profile in 1911, with the kidnapping and murder in Chicago of the five-year old Elsie Paroubek. The Czech American community mobilized massively to help in the searches for the girl and support her family, and it gained much sympathy from the general American public.
While most Czech-Americans are white, some are people of color or are Latino/Hispanic. A small group of Black Czech-Americans of Ethiopian descent lives in Baltimore.[13] In Texas, many Tejanos have Czech ancestry. Czech immigrants to Texas had a deep influence on Tejano culture, particularly Tejano music.[14]
Population
The top 50 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Czech ancestry
The top 50 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Czech ancestry are:[15]
- Conway, ND 55.2% [16]
- West, TX40.9%
- Oak Creek, NE 38.2%
- Wilber, NE37.3%
- Shiner, TX32.1%
- Montgomery, MN(township) 30.9%
- Lonsdale, MN30.5%
- Wheatland, MN 29.9%
- Tyndall, SD29.5%
- David City, NE28.0%
- Montgomery, MN(city) 26.3%
- Franklin, WI 26.1%
- Lanesburgh, MN 25.2%
- Granger, TX25.1%
- Port Costa, CA24.0%
- Schulenburg, TX23.7%
- (tie) New Prague, MN
- (tie) Erin, MN 23.5%
- Wahoo, NE22.7%
- Carlton, WI22.4%
- Wallis, TX22.0%
- Hallettsville, TX21.5%
- Hale, MN 20.8%
- Montpelier, WI19.7%
- Flatonia, TX19.5%
- West Kewaunee, WI19.2%
- Schuyler, NE and Webster, NE19.0%
- Gibson, WI18.9%
- Hillsboro, WI18.4%
- Kossuth, WI18.2%
- Lexington, MN18.1%
- Mishicot, WI16.9%
- North Bend, NE16.7%
- Franklin, WI 15.9%
- Caldwell, TX15.7%
- Lake Mary, MN 15.4%
- Solon, IA15.2%
- Mishicot, WI15.0%
- Helena, MN 14.9%
- Marietta, NE 14.7%
- Stickney, IL14.5%
- Weimar, TX14.3%
- Crete, NE14.2%
- Park River, ND14.1%
- La Grange, TX14.0%
- Wagner, SD13.6%
- Needville, TX13.2%
- Worcester, WI13.0%
- Webster, MN 12.9%
- North Riverside, IL12.4%
- Belle Plaine, IA12.3%
- El Campo, TX12.2%
U.S. communities with the most residents born in the Czech Republic (former Czechoslovakia)
The top U.S. communities with the most residents born in the Czech Republic (former Czechoslovakia) are:[17]
- Masaryktown, FL3.1%
- Mifflinville, PA2.2%
- Gulf Shores, AL2.1%
- North Riverside, IL and Sharon Springs, NY2.0%
- Lyons, IL1.6%
- Anna Maria, FL1.5%
- Danville, AR1.4%
- Verdigre, NE, and Willowbrook, IL1.2%
- Glenview, KY1.1%
- Shelburne, MA, and Gang Mills, NY1.0%
The states with the largest Czech American populations
The states with the largest Czech American populations are:[citation needed]
Texas |
155,855 |
Illinois | 123,708 |
Wisconsin | 97,220 |
Minnesota | 85,056 |
Nebraska | 83,462 |
California | 77,673 |
Ohio | 70,009 |
Iowa | 51,508 |
New York | 44,942 |
Florida | 42,890 |
Vermont | 38,000 |
However, these figures are grossly understated when second and third generation descendants are included.
The states with the top percentages of Czech Americans
The states with the top percentages of Czech Americans are:[citation needed]
Nebraska | 5.5% |
South Dakota | 2.3% |
North Dakota | 2.2% |
Wisconsin | 2.1% |
Iowa | 2.1% |
Minnesota | 2.1% |
Illinois | 1.2% |
Montana | 1.0% |
Wyoming | 1.0% |
Notable people
Festivals
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2020) |
Many cities in the United States hold festivals celebrating Czech culture and cuisine.
- Iowa
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Saint Ludmila's Church - June
- Protivin, Iowa - Czech Days. August
- Kansas
- Wilson, Kansas - Czech Festival, last weekend in July.[18]
- Maryland
- Czechand Slovak heritage.
- Minnesota
- Bechyn, Minnesota - Czechfest. 2nd Sunday in August.
- Montgomery, Minnesota
- Kolacky Days. 4th full weekend in July. Started in 1929.
- Masopust. Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday
- Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant - April
- New Prague, Minnesota - Dozinky Festival - September
- St. Paul, Minnesota- Czech and Slovak Festival - September
- Nebraska
- Wilber, Nebraska - Wilber Czech Days
- Verdigre, Nebraska - Kolach Days
- Oklahoma
- Prague, Oklahoma - Kolache Festival, First Saturday in May
- Yukon, Oklahoma - Yukon Czech Festival, 1st Saturday in October
- Ohio
- DTJ Taborville in Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio[19] [20]
- Cesky Den (Czech Day), 2nd Sunday in July, since 1923
- Obzinky, 2nd Sunday in August, since 1934
- DTJ Taborville in Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio[19] [20]
- South Dakota
- Tabor, South Dakota - Czech Days, third Friday and Saturday in June - www.taborczechdays.com
- Texas [21][22][23]
- Ennis, Texas - National Polka Festival three-day event is every Memorial Day weekend / Last weekend in May; event website: http://www.nationalpolkafestival.com/
- Weimar
- Hallettsville 4th weekend in March and last Saturday of September
- Shiner Several lesser Czech and Kolache festivals are held in Shiner varying in size, occasion and date, where Shiner's largest contribution to Kolache festivities conjoins with the Hallettsville Kolache Festival and the annual Bocktober festival.
- Yoakum 2nd week of June as part of the annual Tom-Tom Festival
- Missouri City
- Corpus Christi 3rd Saturday in March
- Houston 4th Sunday in March and 3rd Sunday in May
- Rosenberg First full weekend in May
- Ennis Memorial Day Weekend
- San Antonio First weekend in June and Last Sunday in October
- East Bernard Second Saturday in June
- Ammannsville Father's Day
- Dubina First Sunday in July
- Praha August 15
- Flatonia Czilispiel during the last full weekend in October
- Marak Last Sunday in August
- West Labor Day Weekend
- Caldwell Second Saturday in September
- Pasadena 4th weekend in October
- Crosby Annual Czech Fest is held the first Saturday in October. Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crosby is the festivals organizer and was the original site of the festival. However, as the festival and Crosby have grown it has been held at the Crosby Fair and Rodeo grounds since about 1990.
- Temple
- Libuse Annual celebration held by the Louisiana Czech Heritage Association. Includes attractions such as Czech cuisine, Czech dancers, and a showing of the history of the Czech community in Libuse, Louisiana.
- Wisconsin
- Hillsboro, Wisconsin - Český den, second full weekend in June. Started in 1983.[24]
- Kewaunee, Wisconsin - Czech & Kolache Festival, the 1st full weekend in August at the beautiful Heritage Farm.[25]
- Phillips, Wisconsin - Czech-Slovak Festival and Lidice & Ležáky Villages Memorial Service, 3rd full weekend in June. Started in 1988.[26]
See also
- Czech Brazilians
- Czech Canadians
- Czech Texans
- Czech South Dakotans
- Demographics of the Czech Republic
- European Americans
- Czech Republic–United States relations
References
- ^ "ACS Demographic and Housing 2019 1-Year Estimates".
- ^ "Rank of States for Selected Ancestry Groups with 100,00 or more persons: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population Detailed Ancestry Groups for States" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. September 18, 1992. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ "Ancestry: 2000". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ "Total ancestry categories tallied for people with one or more ancestry categories reported 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ Jerabek, Esther. "The transition of a new world Bohemia" (PDF). Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ Christine Molinari. "Czech americans". Countries and Their Cultures.
- ^ Cermak, Anton. "United States Census, 1900". FamilySearch.
- ^ Horack, Gottlieb. "United States Census, 1930". FamilySearch.
- ^ Svoboda, Peter. "United States Census, 1930". FamilySearch.
- ^ Bukva, Paul. "United States Census, 1910". FamilySearch.
- ^ Cermak, Anton. "United States Census, 1930". FamilySearch.
- ^ "Baltimore's Czech and Slovak Festival is a surprising reflection on heritage". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Conjunto". Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Ancestry Map of Czech Communities". Epodunk.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
- ^ American FactFinder, community facts-Conway City, North Dakota- Origins and languages- Census 2000 Selected Social Characteristics (Household and Family Type, Disability, Citizenship, Ancestry, Language, ...) http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml Archived 2015-01-08 at the Library of Congress Web Archives [1]
- ^ "Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia) (population 500+)". city-data.com. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
- ^ "Wilson, KS - Czech Festival". Wilsonks.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
- ^ "Events". www.dtjtaborville.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ "DTJ Taborville Harvest Festival Patterned After 'Old Country' Original". Geauga County Maple Leaf | Your News Resource in Geauga County. August 4, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ "Czech Texans". Texas Almanac. November 17, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "Czech Festivals". Czechs.org. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
- ^ Edita Rybak; Chris Rybak; Bernard Tupa. "Events". Texasczechs.com. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
- ^ "Cesky Den". City of Hillsboro.
- ^ "NorthEastern Wisconsin CZECH & KOLACHE Festival". Agricultural Heritage & Resources. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ "Vitame vas Phillips, Wisconsin Czech-Slovak Festival". Retrieved May 15, 2016.
Further reading
- Bicha, Karel. The Czechs in Oklahoma (U of Oklahoma Press, 1980).
- Capek, Thomas. The Czechs (Bohemians) in America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1920; reprinted New York: Arno Press, 1969.
- Epstein, Helen. Where She Came From: A Daughter's Search for her Mother's History. Holmes & Meier, 1997.
- Grossman, Patricia. Radiant Daughter. Northwestern University Press, 2010.
- Habenicht, Jan. History of Czechs in America. St. Paul, MN: Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International, 1996.
- Hampl, Patricia. A Romantic Education. Houghton Mifflin, 1981.
- Labendz, Jacob Ari (2021). ""In unserem Kreise": Czech-Jewish Activism and Diaspora in the USA, 1933–1994". American Jewish History. 105 (3): 371–401. S2CID 245162560.
- Laska, Vera. The Czechs in America, 1633-1977 (Oceana Publications, 1978).
- Molinari, Christine. "Czech Americans." in Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2014), pp. 619-632. online
- Rechcigl, Miloslav, Jr. Czechs and Slovaks in America. Boulder, CO: East European Monographs and New York: Columbia University Press, 2005.
- Rechcigl, Miloslav, Jr. Encyclopedia of Bohemian and Czech American Biography. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse, 2016. 3 vols.
- Smith, Philip D. From Praha to Prague: Czechs in an Oklahoma Farm Town (U of Oklahoma Press, 2017).