Russian Americans
Русские американцы | |
---|---|
Total population | |
2,432,733 self-reported[1] 0.741% of the U.S. population (2019) 391,641 Russian-born Alaskan Creoles |
Russian Americans (Russian: русские американцы,
In the mid-19th century, waves of Russian immigrants fleeing religious persecution settled in the U.S., including
In several major U.S. cities, many Jewish Americans who trace their heritage back to Russia and other Americans of East Slavic origin, such as Belarusian Americans and Rusyn Americans, sometimes identify as Russian Americans. Additionally, certain non-Slavic groups from the post-Soviet space, such as Armenian Americans, Georgian Americans, and Moldovan Americans, have a longstanding historical association with the Russian American community.
Demographics
According to the Institute of Modern Russia in 2011, the Russian American population is estimated to be 3.13 million.[4] The American Community Survey of the U.S. census shows the total number of people in the U.S. age 5 and over speaking Russian at home to be slightly over 900,000, as of 2020.
Many Russian Americans do not speak Russian,[5] having been born in the United States and brought up in English-speaking homes. In 2007, however, Russian was the primary spoken language of 851,174 Americans at home, according to the U.S. census.[4] According to the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, 750,000 Russian Americans were ethnic Russians in 1990.[6]
The
Sometimes Carpatho-Rusyns and Ukrainians who emigrated from Carpathian Ruthenia in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century identify as Russian Americans. More recent émigrés would often refer to this group as the starozhili 'old residents'. This group became the pillar of the Russian Orthodox Church in America[citation needed]. Today, most of this group has become assimilated into the local society, with ethnic traditions continuing to survive primarily around the church.
Russian-born population
Russian-born population in the U.S. since 2010:[9][2]
Year | Number |
---|---|
2010 | 383,166 |
2011 | 399,216 |
2012 | 399,128 |
2013 | 390,934 |
2014 | 390,977 |
2015 | 386,529 |
2016 | 397,236 |
2017 | 403,670 |
2018 | 391,094 |
2019 | 391,641 |
Social status
The
Ethnicity | Household Income | College degrees (%) |
---|---|---|
Russian
|
$80,554 | 60.4 |
Polish | $73,452 | 42.5 |
Czech
|
$71,663 | 45.4 |
Serbian | $79,135 | 46.0 |
Slovak
|
$73,093 | 44.8 |
Ukrainian
|
$75,674 | 52.2 |
White non-Hispanic | $65,845 | 35.8 |
Total U.S. Population | $60,336 | 32.0 |
History
Colonial era
Russian America (1733–1867)
The territory that today is the U.S. state of Alaska was settled by Russians and controlled by the
Russian America was not a profitable colony because of high transportation costs and the declining animal population. After it was
Immigration to the U.S.
First wave (1870–1915)
The first massive wave of immigration from all areas of Europe to the United States took place in the late 19th century. Although some immigration took place earlier – the most notable example being
The most prominent Russian groups that immigrated in this period were groups from Imperial Russia seeking freedom from religious persecution. These included
Second wave (1916–1922)
A large wave of Russians immigrated in the short time period of 1917–1922, in the wake of October Revolution and Russian Civil War. This group is known collectively as the White émigrés. The U.S. was the third largest destination for those immigrants, after France and Serbia.[citation needed] This wave is often referred to as the first wave, when discussing Soviet era immigration. The head of the Russian Provisional Government, Alexander Kerensky, was one of those immigrants.
Since the immigrants were of the higher classes of the
As with first and second wave, if the White émigré left Russia to any country, they were still considered first or second wave, even if they ended up moving to another country, including the U.S. at a later time. There was no 'strict' year boundaries, but a guideline to have a better understanding of the time period. Thus, 1917-1922 is a guideline. There are Russians who are considered second wave even if they arrived after 1922 up to 1948.
Soviet era (1922–1991)
During the
Following the international condemnation of the Soviet reaction to
The 1970s witnessed 51,000 Soviet Jews emigrate to the United States, a majority after the Trade Agreement of 1974 was passed.[22] The majority of the Soviet Jews that emigrated to the United States went to Cleveland.[22] Here, chain migration began to unfold as more Soviet Jews emigrated after the 1970s, concentrating in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland.[22] The majority of Soviet Jews that had arrived were educated and held college degrees.[22] These new immigrants would go onto work in important industrial businesses in the city such as BP America and General Electric Co. Other Russian and later post-Soviet immigrants found work in the Cleveland Orchestra or the Cleveland Institute of Music as professional musicians and singers.[22][24]
The slow
Post-Soviet era (1991–present)
Russian speakers in the U.S.
| |
Year
|
Speakers
|
1910a | 57,926
|
1920a | 392,049
|
1930a | 315,721
|
1940a | 356,940
|
1960a | 276,834
|
1970a | 149,277
|
1980[25] | 173,226
|
1990[26] | 241,798
|
2000[27] | 706,242
|
2011[28] | 905,843
|
^a Foreign-born population only[29] |
With
With the
A notable part of the 1991—2001 immigration wave consisted of scientists and engineers who, faced with extremely poor job market at home
51% of lawful Russian migrants obtain permanent residence from immediate family member of U.S. citizens, 20% obtain it from the Diversity Lottery, 18% obtain it through employment, 6% are family sponsored, and 5% are refugee and asylum seekers.[37]
The Soviet Union was a sports empire, and many prominent Russian sportspeople found great acclaim and rewards for their skills in the United States. Examples are
On 27 September 2022, White House press secretary
Notable communities
Communities with high percentages of people of Russian ancestry
The top U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Russian ancestry are:[40]
- Fox River, Alaska 80.9%[41]
- Aleneva, Alaska 72.5%[42]
- Nikolaevsk, Alaska 67.5%[43]
- Pikesville, Maryland 19.30%
- Roslyn Estates, New York 18.60%
- Hewlett Harbor, New York 18.40%
- East Hills, New York 18.00%
- Wishek, North Dakota 17.40%
- Eureka, South Dakota 17.30%
- Beachwood, Ohio 16.80%
- Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania 16.70%
- Kensington, New York and Mayfield, Pennsylvania 16.20%
- Napoleon, North Dakota 15.80%
U.S. communities with the most residents born in Russia
Top U.S. communities with the most residents born in Russia are:[44]
- Millville, Delaware 8.5%
- South Windham, Maine 7.8%
- South Gull Lake, Michigan 7.6%
- Loveland Park, Ohio 6.8%
- Terramuggus, Connecticut 4.7%
- Harwich Port, Massachusetts 4.6%
- Brush Prairie, Washington 4.5%
- Feasterville, Pennsylvania 4.4%
- Colville, Washington 4.4%
- Mayfield, Ohio 4.0%
- Serenada, Texas 4.0%
- Orchards, Washington 3.6%
- Leavenworth, Washington 3.4%
Apart from such settlements as
Notable people
See also
- Russian language in the United States
- History of the Russians in Baltimore
- Slavic Voice of America
- St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral
- Florida Russian Lifestyle Magazine
- AmBAR – American Business Association of Russian Professionals
- American Chamber of Commerce in Russia
- Category:Russian communities in the United States
- Russian colonization of the Americas
- Russian explorers
- Russian America
- Russian American Company
- Fort Ross
- Russian American Medical Association
- Brighton Ballet Theater
- Russian Canadian
- Doukhobor
- Russia–United States relations
- Russian Americans in New York City
- Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
- Orthodox Church in America (formerly North American Russian Metropolia)
References
- ^ "Table B04006 - PEOPLE REPORTING ANCESTRY - 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ a b "Table B05006 - PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES - 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Largest Ethnic Groups and Nationalities in US". World Atlas. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- ^ a b "Rediscovering Russian America". Institute of Modern Russia. 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- ^ "Growing Up Russian". Aleksandr Strezev, Principia. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
- ^ "Immigration: Russia. Curriculum for Grade 6–12 Teachers". Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
- ^ "Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Leading Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) of Residence and Region and Country of Birth: Fiscal Year 2013". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ Matt Rooney (April 1, 2014). "Putin Moves Against Fair Lawn". Save Jersey. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
In a move certain to carry dire geopolitical consequences for the world, the Russian Federation has moved troops into the 32,000-person borough of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, only days after annexing Crimea and strengthening its troop positions along the Ukrainian border.
- ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- ^ a b Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Nitoburg, E. (1999). Русские религиозные сектанты и староверы в США. Новая И Новейшая История (in Russian) (3): 34–51. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
- ^ Chapter 1 – The Migration in Dukh-i-zhizniki In America by Andrei Conovaloff, 2018 (in-progress)
- ^ a b "Russians and East Europeans in America". Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- ^ Gitelman, Zvi. A Century of Ambivalence, The Jews of Russia and the Soviet Union, 1881 to the Present. 2nd Ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1988. Print.
- ^ Barnarvi, Eli ed. A Historical Atlas of the Jewish People. New York: Schocken Books, 1992. Print.
- ^ a b Moh, Caroline. "The Jackson-Vanik Amendment and U.S.-Russian Relations". wilsoncenter.org.
- ^ "Russians and East Europeans in America". sites.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Soviet Exiles | Polish/Russian | Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ "Soviet Exiles | Polish/Russian | Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History | Classroom Materials | Library of Congress". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-313-31955-6. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ^ History of Dissident Movement in the USSR by Lyudmila Alexeyeva. Vilnius, 1992 (in Russian)
- ^ a b c d e f Shaland, Irene. "Soviet and Post-Soviet Immigration". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ "Cypress & Spruce". Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ "Russians". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ "Appendix Table 2. Languages Spoken at Home: 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2007". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ "Detailed Language Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English for Persons 5 Years and Over --50 Languages with Greatest Number of Speakers: United States 1990". United States Census Bureau. 1990. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- United States Bureau of the Census. Archived from the originalon February 12, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
- United States Bureau of the Census. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ "Mother Tongue of the Foreign-Born Population: 1910 to 1940, 1960, and 1970". United States Census Bureau. March 9, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ "Fiscal Year 1999 Statistical Yearbook" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration Statistics. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
- ^ "Refugees and Asylees: 2005" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security Office of Immigration Statistics. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
- ^ Branko Milanovic, Income, Inequality, and Poverty During the Transformation from Planned to Market Economy (Washington DC: The World Bank, 1998), pp.186–90.
- ^ a b "Russian brain drain tops half a million". BBC. June 20, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- ^ "Утечка мозгов" – болезнь не только российская. Экология И Жизнь (in Russian). 2003. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
- ^ "Russian brain drain tops half a million". June 20, 2002. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ Bureau, US Census. "Census 2000 Foreign-Born Profiles". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Table 10. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status By Broad Class Of Admission And Region And Country Of Birth: Fiscal Year 2016". Department of Homeland Security. May 16, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "The White House told Russians to flee here instead of fighting Ukraine. Then the U.S. tried to deport them". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 2023.
- ^ "Biden administration quietly resumes deportations to Russia". The Guardian. March 18, 2023.
- ^ "Ancestry Map of Russian Communities". Epodunk.com. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml# [1] American fact finder, Fox River, Alaska, Census 2000-Selected Social Characteristics (Household and Family Type, Disability, Citizenship, Ancestry, Language, ...)
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml# [2] American fact finder, Aleneva, Alaska, Census 2000-Selected Social Characteristics (Household and Family Type, Disability, Citizenship, Ancestry, Language, ...)
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml# [3] American fact finder, Nikolaevsk, Alaska, Census 2000-Selected Social Characteristics (Household and Family Type, Disability, Citizenship, Ancestry, Language, ...)
- ^ "Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Russia (population 500+)". City-Data. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ Greenstone, Scott (June 16, 2016). "Oregon's Soviet Diaspora: 25 Years Later, The Refugee Community Wants To Be Known". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
Further reading
- Eubank, Nancy. The Russians in America (Lerner Publications, 1979).
- Hardwick, Susan Wiley. Russian Refuge: Religion, Migration, and Settlement on the North American Pacific Rim (U of Chicago Press, 1993).
- Jacobs, Dan N., and Ellen Frankel Paul, eds. Studies of the Third Wave: Recent Migration of Soviet Jews to the United States (Westview Press, 1981).
- Magocsi, Paul Robert. "Russian Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 4, Gale, 2014), pp. 31–45. online
- Magocsi, Paul Robert. The Russian Americans (Chelsea House, 1989).
External links
- "Russian". Chicago Foreign Language Press Survey. Chicago Public Library Omnibus Project of the Works Progress Administration of Illinois. 1942 – via Newberry Library. (English translations of selected newspaper articles, 1855–1938).