Ethnic groups in Omaha, Nebraska

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Various ethnic groups in Omaha, Nebraska have lived in the city since its organization by Anglo-Americans in 1854.

various ethnic groups from the Eastern United States, and new waves of more recent immigrants from Mexico and Africa have added layers of complexity to the workforce, culture
, religious and social fabric of the city.

In From Sea to Sea - Letters of Travel, published in 1899,

children of immigrants.[2]

Background

The first

meatpacking industry. Others came after moving to the state to homestead and giving up, while still others were headed through Omaha to other western States
beyond Nebraska, and simply ended up staying.

20th century population

In 1900 Omaha had a total population of 102,555, with 23,255 immigrants accounting for 23 percent of the population. Omaha’s black population doubled between 1910 and 1920. By 1910 the city's population was 124,096 people, with 27,179 immigrants included. After 1910 the city's ethnic groups began to stabilize. In 1920 only 19 percent of the population was foreign-born. By 1930, when Omaha's population was 214,066, the federal government had curtailed European immigration. In

that year's census
the city's immigrant population comprised 14 percent of the total.

What the

Italians in Omaha came directly to the city after arrival in port cities from Southern Italy and Sicily
.

In 1907 the

Greek Town Riot
drove out the entirety of that population. Some people of Greek heritage later returned to the city, but the community might have been larger without the early troubles.

As with other industrial cities, Omaha's percentage of foreign-born residents was significantly higher than the national average from 1900 to 1930. It was also much higher than the rest of the

Milwaukee and New York City.[6]

Ethnic group
 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
Total population 102,555 124,096 214,066
African Americans 4,426
Native Americans
Austrian-Hungarians 3,414
Bohemians 2,170 3,946
Danes
 2,430 2,652 2,561
Germans 4,861 4,270 3,700
Irish 2,164
Italians
 2,361 3,221
Mexicans
Poles 2,592 3,825 2,546
Russians 2,592 3,825 2,084
Scandinavians 6,710
Swedes 3,805 3,708 2,977

Native Americans

Omaha was within the territory of several tribes whose residence preceded that of any Europeans or Americans. Since the 17th century, the

Omaha nation were the most powerful Indians along the Missouri River north of the Platte, they moved on to the western edge of present-day Bellevue, Nebraska
.

Living on outlying lands through the 1870s, the Pawnee were forcibly removed by the federal government to Oklahoma that decade. The Pawnees' chief Sitting Bear brought the band back to the Omaha area to fight for their lands. Native Americans have lived in the city since its foundation.

Native American and Alaska Native Tribal Grouping Number Percentage of Omaha Population (2016 Est)[7]
Total 2,450 0.6%
Cherokee 153 0.0%
Chippewa 31 0.0%
Navajo 43 0.0%
Sioux 459 0.1%

African Americans

Main article: African Americans in Omaha, Nebraska

The first recorded instance of a

North Omaha
, including businesses, churches and many homes.

In 1910 Omaha's African-American population of 4,426 residents was the third-largest in the Western United States.[12] The growing meatpacking industry recruited African American and immigrant workers. From the 1920s-50s, North Omaha was a destination for African Americans during the Great Migration from the South.

The

Prohibition era. A documentary reports that, "On the surface the black community appeared quite stable. Its center was a several-block district north of the downtown. There were over a hundred black-owned businesses, and there were a number of black physicians, dentists, and attorneys. Over twenty fraternal organizations and clubs flourished. Church life was diverse. Of more than forty denominations, Methodists and Baptists predominated."[13]

Asians

The first Asians in Omaha were Chinese immigrants who worked as laborers on construction of the First transcontinental railroad. The first Japanese people in Omaha arrived in the 20th century to work at the stockyards.[14] Throughout the years, there were varying numbers of people who identified as Chinese, especially Cantonese. Omaha's Chinatown was located at 12th and Dodge Streets in present-day downtown Omaha.[15]

One notable Omahan is former City Councilman Lormong Lo.

Group Number Percentage of Population of Omaha (2016 Est)[7]
Total Asian 14,411 3.30%
Asian Indian 3,081 0.70%
Chinese 1,934 0.40%
Filipino 696 0.20%
Japanese 393 0.10%
Korean 849 0.20%
Vietnamese 1,224 0.30%
Other Asian 6,234 1.40%

Czechs

Main article: Czechs in Omaha, Nebraska

In the 1860s many Czechs, primarily from Bohemia and Moravia, immigrated to Nebraska. Edward Rosewater and John Rosicky, early Omaha newspaper editors originally from Bohemia, encouraged countrymen to come by extolling promises of free land in frontier Nebraska.[16] By 1880 Czechs were the most concentrated ethnic group in the city.[17] Their major neighborhood was called Little Bohemia, and it stands with several historic businesses today. Czechs had a strong political and cultural voice in Omaha,[18] and were involved in a variety of trades and businesses, including banks, wholesale houses, and funeral homes. The Notre Dame Academy and Convent and Czechoslovak Museum as legacies of their initial impact on the city.[19] Many Czechs lived in Omaha's Little Bohemia.

Danes

Further information:
Danes in Omaha, Nebraska

According to the definitive 1882 History of the State of Nebraska, the first Danes in Nebraska arrived at

Florence with the Mormons in the 1840s.[20] According to one definitive history, the Danes in Omaha were a predominant ethnic group in the city in the 1920s, and were notable for that compared to other cities across the United States.[21]

Germans

Main article: Germans in Omaha, Nebraska

The first German in the Omaha area arrived more than 20 years before the city was founded.

Storz
breweries.

Germans built several Kirchenduestchen - German churches - throughout Omaha.

Kaiser Wilhelm in Germany.[28]

The German community in Omaha was noted for

Dundee, Field Club, and South 19th and Vinton Streets
.

Their society was well respected; for instance, several states built their education systems on the German model, establishing normal schools and colleges to develop different levels of scholars and educators. During the early 20th century, Germans in Omaha were successful in ensuring that German culture, German history and German language lessons were included as subjects in the local public school system.[29] During World War I strong anti-German sentiment swept the country, and by 1919 open discrimination against Germans throughout Omaha was taking hold. Many German-language newspapers were forced to change to English, or to close.[30] Many German-Americans were completely assimilated into American society. By World War II, the more distinctive institutions of German society in Omaha, such as stores, German-language churches, and social groups, had disappeared or become less exclusive of other groups.[31]

Greeks

Main article: Greeks in Omaha, Nebraska

The community of

a major riot in 1909 the community never fully recovered. However, today Omaha hosts two Greek Orthodox churches, and there is a strong Greek identity.[32][33]

Irish

Main article: Irish in Omaha, Nebraska

Sheelytown
neighborhood.

Italians

Main article:
Italians in Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha's first Italian enclave grew south of downtown, with many Italian immigrants coming to the city to work in the Union Pacific shops. South 10th Street and South 6th Street were important centers of the community.[35]

Jews

Main article:
Jews and Judaism in Omaha, Nebraska

Jews in Omaha were largely

Jews helped build the once-strong North 24th Street commercial area, which today is the center of Omaha's African American community.[36]

Mexicans

Main article: Mexicans in Omaha, Nebraska

Mexicans in Omaha originally emigrated to Omaha to work in the rail yards, while today they compose the majority of South Omaha's Hispanic population.[37]

Poles

Main article: Poles in Omaha, Nebraska

Sheelytown neighborhood, many working in the Omaha Stockyards.[38]

Russians

Main article:
Jews and Judaism in Omaha, Nebraska

In the early 1890s many

Near North Side neighborhood, the Jewish people maintained strong religious and educational traditions. Some were Socialist and they and their children became involved in labor organizing and various progressive movements in the city.[39]

Serbs

Serbs began to immigrate to Omaha in the 19th century, and had an established presence within the city by the early 20th century. Serbian immigrants established the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Omaha in 1917, which remains today and caters to the local community.

Duluth.[41][42]

Swedes

Main article: Swedes in Omaha, Nebraska

Swedes first came to Omaha as

Florence neighborhood.[43][44]
They built a variety of institutions throughout the city, including hospitals, churches, and schools. The Swedes also founded a number of fraternal organizations, including the Noon Day Scandinavian Club.

Others

Several hundred

Austria-Hungary), as well as Belgians
.

21st century

In the city of Omaha, U.S. census figures indicate 2,010 American Indians in 2000, representing 0.5 percent of the city’s total population.

Native American Studies major, and the program has increased enrollment by 500 percent since 1995.[45]

Immigration continues in Omaha, if at a slower pace. Recent patterns demonstrate continued immigration by

neo-Nazi rally in Omaha drew 65 participants to a protest outside the city's Mexican consulate. The city arranged for more than 300 police to ensure events were kept calm. It also held the first annual event to celebrate the city's ethnic diversity together with Septemberfest, a celebration of labor. Thousands gathered in counter-protest to the neo-Nazis.[47]

A growing number of

Nubians. Most Sudanese people in Omaha speak the Nuer language.[48] Other Africans live in Omaha as well, with one-third coming from Nigeria, and significant populations from Kenya, Togo, Cameroon and Ghana.[49]

Ethnic group
 2010 2000 2010 Percentage
Total population 407,334 390,007
Blacks or African Americans 53,251 51,427 13.1
Asians 8,639 6,685 2.1
Hispanic/Latinos 49,090 29,397 12
Native Americans 2,450 2,457 0.6
Whites or European Americans 297,812 283,704 67.2
Some other race 14,214 19,915 3.2
Two or more races 13,193 12,671 3.0

Metro area

The

Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area is seeing a broad array of growth in its ethnic makeup. The racial makeup of the metro area in 2005 follows, with comparison date for the entirety of the United States
:

Ethnic groups in Omaha
and the United States[51]
Ethnic group
 Metro % USA %
Total population 807,305
Blacks/African Americans 7.35 12.15
Asians/Pacific Islanders 2.16 4.29
Hispanics 6.14 14.45
Native Americans 0.42 0.83
Whites/European Americans 85 75.69
Other 2.95 4.59

Racial tension

Main articles: Racial tension in Omaha, Nebraska and Timeline of racial tension in Omaha, Nebraska

The complexity of population and rapid rate of change has caused social tensions to erupt periodically in violence. Racial tension has marked Omaha since the 1880s. In 1890 several hundred

South Omaha protested the presence of Japanese students at their school by refusing to attend and locking adults out of their school buildings. The protest was mostly because the Japanese students were children of strikebreakers brought in by stockyards the previous year.[53]

In February 1909 a

mob attacked Greektown, a local ethnic enclave. They forced Greek residents to abandon the area, destroyed businesses, and completely demolished 30 buildings.[54][32]

While incidents of racial tension in Omaha have been reported through its history, the worst was the

Omaha Race Riot of 1919. This followed Red Summer, when other major industrial cities such as Chicago were also inflamed by severe race riots, arising from social, job and housing tensions after World War I. In Omaha an African-American laborer named Will Brown was lynched, the city's mayor was almost lynched, and four other people were murdered. Although the U.S. Army arrived to restore order, many observers believed torrential rains contributed more to dampening emotions and sparing the city more damage. Some feared that related rioting might occur in other Midwestern United States, particularly in Chicago; but none did.[55]

Local civil rights campaigns started in the 1940s, along with organizing laborers in the meatpacking industry. African Americans gained some progress, but restructuring of railroads and the meatpacking industry cost Omaha tens of thousands of jobs in mid-century, slowing the economy drastically. Poverty and related problems became more endemic in North Omaha. In the mid-to late-1960s, as in other once powerful industrial cities that had neglected long-identified problems, riots erupted in the African-American community.

On July 4, 1966 a crowd of African Americans gathered at the intersection of North 24th and Lake Streets refused to disband and reacted violently against the local police. Three days of rioting ensued, causing millions of dollars of damage to the North 24th Street corridor.[56][57] A month later, on August 1, 1966, riots erupted again after a 19-year-old was shot by an off-duty white policeman during a burglary. Three buildings were firebombed, and 180 riot police were required to quell the crowds.[58]

Two years later, on March 4, 1968, a crowd of high school and university students were gathered at the

Nebraska State Legislature, and served a total of 38 years, longer than any of his predecessors.[58]

The last major riot occurred on June 24, 1969 when young African Americans in North Omaha rioted in protest after the killing of an African-American teenager named

Logan Fontenelle Housing Projects. African Americans looted along the North 24th Street business corridor. During this initial surge, eight businesses were destroyed by firebombing or looting.[60] Events went on for several more days.[61]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kipling, R. (1899) The Works of Rudyard Kipling: From Sea to Sea - Letters of Travel. The Century Company. p 136.
  2. ^ Larsen and Cotrell. (1997) The Gate City: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. p 158.
  3. ^ (2007) Nebraska's Population Today[permanent dead link]. Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved 5/13/08.
  4. ^ Dillingham, W.P. (1918) Reports of the Dillingham Commission: Immigrants in the Industries, p. 14.
  5. ^ Dillingham, W.P. (1918) p 344.
  6. ^ a b Larsen and Cotrell. (1997) p 157.
  7. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
  8. ^ Multiethnic Guide. Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine Greater Omaha Economic Partnership. Retrieved 10/28/07.
  9. Federal Writers Project. (1939) "The Negro comes to Nebraska" Archived 2021-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
    , Negroes in Nebraska. Retrieved 5/13/08.
  10. ^ (1938) Authur Goodlett. American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940. Retrieved 10/29/07.
  11. ^ (1936) Henry Black: Life Histories from the Folklore Project, WPA Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940; American Memory. U.S. Library of Congress Archived 2007-06-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Taylor, Q. (1999) In Search of the Racial Frontier: African Americans in the American West. W. W. Norton & Company. p 204.
  13. ^ History 313: The History of African Americans in the West Manual - Chapter 7: The Black Urban West, 1880-1940. University of Washington. Retrieved 10/29/07.
  14. ^ Dillingham, W.P. (1918) p 341.
  15. ^ Roenfeld, R. (2019) "A History of Omaha's Chinatown, NorthOmahaHistory.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  16. ^ Mead & Hunt, Inc. (2006) p. 6.
  17. ^ Omaha City Planning Department (nd) A Comprehensive Program for Historic Preservation in Omaha. p. 38.
  18. Omaha Bee
    .
  19. ^ Sisson, R., Zacher, C.K. and Cayton, A.R.L. (2007) The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia. Indiana University Press, p 235.
  20. ^ Andreas, A. (1882) History of the State of Nebraska. Retrieved 10/7/10.
  21. ^ Barkan, E.R. (1999)A Nation of Peoples: A sourcebook on America's multicultural heritage. Greenwood Publishing Group. p 470.
  22. ^ Hunt, D.C., Orr, W.J. and Goetzmann, W.H. (eds) (1984) Karl Bodmer's America. Joslyn Art Museum. p 8.
  23. ^ Scherneckau, A. (2007) Marching with the First Nebraska: A Civil War Diary. University of Oklahoma Press.
  24. ^ a b Sullenger, T.E. (1937) "Problems of Ethnic Assimilation in Omaha," Social Forces. 15(3) pp. 402-410.
  25. ^ Luebke, F.C. (1999) Germans in the New World: Essays in the History of Immigration. University of Illinois Press. p 17.
  26. ^ " German American Reading Room: The Germans in America." United States Library of Congress. Retrieved 9/3/07.
  27. ^ Carlson, A.C. (2002) "Hyphenates, Hausfraus and baby-saving: The Peculiar Legacy of German-America", Archived 2013-04-15 at archive.today The Family in America. 16(1/2). Retrieved 9/2/07.
  28. ^ Folsom, B.W. (1999) No More Free Markets Or Free Beer: The Progressive Era in Nebraska, 1900-1924. Lexington Books. p 11.
  29. ^ Kaplan, M.M. (1967) Judaism as a Civilization: Toward a Reconstruction of American-Jewish Life. p 551.
  30. ^ Folsom, B.W. (1999) No More Free Markets Or Free Beer: The Progressive Era in Nebraska, 1900-1924. Lexington Books. p 112.
  31. ^ Luebke, F.C. (1999) Germans in the New World: Essays in the History of Immigration. University of Illinois Press. p 66.
  32. ^ a b "Racial Tensions in Omaha". Nebraska Studies. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  33. ^ (nd) "History." St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church website. Retrieved 6/7/07.
  34. ^ Barstow, D. (2002) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tales of 19th century Omaha. Caxton Press. p 44.
  35. ^ Federal Writers' Project. (1936) Omaha: A Guide to the City and Environs. American Guide Series. p. 161.
  36. ^ (1980) A Comprehensive Program for Historic Preservation in Omaha. City of Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission. p 54.
  37. ^ T. Earl Sullenger, (1929) "The Mexican Population of Omaha," Journal of Applied Sociology, VIII. May–June. p. 289.
  38. ^ Peattie, E.W. "How they live at Sheely: Pen picture of a strange settlement and its queer set of inhabitants," March 31, 1895. in (2005) Impertinences: Selected Writings of Elia Peattie, a Journalist in the Gilded Age. University of Nebraska Press. p. 31.
  39. ^ Larson and Cotrell (1997) p 161.
  40. ^ Wirth, Eileen M., and Carol McCabe. Omaha's Historic Houses of Worship. Arcadia Publishing, 2014.
  41. ^ Barkan, Elliott Robert. “Serbs and Serbian Americans, 1940-Present.” Immigrants in American History: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration, vol. 1, ABC-CLIO, 2013, pp. 1257–1258.
  42. ^ Dorich, William, et al. A Brief History of Serbian Music. Graphics Management Pub., 1998.
  43. ^ Matteson, E. and Matteson, J. "Mormon Influence on Scandinavian Settlement in Nebraska," in Larsen, B.F., Bender, H. and Veien, K. (eds) (1993) On Distant Shores: Proceedings of the Marcus Lee Hansen Immigrration Conference; Aalborg, Denmark June 29 - July 1, 1992. Aalborg, Denmark: Danes Worldwide Archives and Danish Society for Emigration History.
  44. ^ Nelson, O.N. (1899) History of the Scandinavians and Successful Scandinavians in the United States: parts 1 & 2. O. N. Nelson & Company. p. 44, 237, 502.
  45. ^ Greater Omaha Economic Partnership. (2007) Multi-ethnic Guide. Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine p 35. Retrieved 5/13/08.
  46. ^ Greater Omaha Economic Partnership. (2007) p 28.
  47. ^ Ruggles, R. and Cole, K. (2007) "Huge police presence subdues Nazi rally"[permanent dead link], Omaha World-Herald. September 2, 2007. Retrieved 5/13/08.
  48. ^ Burbach, C. "Rally features Sudanese vice president." Omaha World-Herald. July 22, 2006.
  49. ^ Greater Omaha Economic Partnership. (2007) p 18.
  50. U.S. Census, 2000
    ). Retrieved 5/14/08.
  51. ^ Access Omaha. (2006) Demographic Profile: Omaha MSA 2000–2010. p. 2.
  52. ^ Taylor, Q. (1999) p 205.
  53. ^ "Revolt over Japanese; South Omaha School Children Want Them Expelled", The New York Times. April 18, 1905. Retrieved 4/20/08.
  54. ^ "South Omaha mob wars on Greeks", The New York Times. February 21, 1909. Retrieved 4/16/08.
  55. ^ Tuttle, W.M. (1972) Race Riot: Chicago in the Red Summer of 1919. University of Chicago Press. p 244.
  56. ^ Luebtke, F.C. (2005) Nebraska: An Illustrated History. University of Nebraska Press. p. 334.
  57. ^ Levine, B.J. (2004) Resolving Racial Conflict: The Community Relations Service and Civil Rights. University of Missouri Press. p 105.
  58. ^ a b Olson, J.C. and Naugle, R.C. (1997) History of Nebraska. University of Nebraska Press. p 371.
  59. ^ "Peaceful protest turns violent" Archived September 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, The Creightonian Online. Retrieved 4/16/08.
  60. ^ Luebtke, F.C. (2005) Nebraska: An Illustrated History. University of Nebraska Press. p. 372.
  61. ^ "Firebombings in Omaha", The New York Times. June 26, 1969. Retrieved 4/21/08.

Further reading

  • Chaudacoff, H.P. (1976) "Mobile Americans: Residential and Social Mobility in Omaha, 1880-1920," International Migration Review. 10;1. Spring. pp. 110–112.
  • Harkins, A.M., Zeyman, M.L. and Woods, R.G. (1970) Indian Americans in Omaha and Lincoln. University of Minnesota.
  • Karpf, M. (2006) "Family an important factor in Omaha student's college choice,"[
    Daily Nebraskan
    . May 1, 2006. Retrieved 5/13/08.
  • Sullenger, T.E. (1937) "Problems of Ethnic Assimilation in Omaha," Social Forces. 15;3. March. pp. 402–410.

External links

  • Omaha Table Talk - A local program promoting dialog between racial and ethnic groups.
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