Austrian Immigrants: Settling Across America's Heartland

where did austrian immigrants settle in america

Austrian immigrants have settled in various parts of the United States throughout history, with the earliest documented German Austrian settlers arriving in the colony of Georgia in 1734. The northeastern urbanized centers, particularly New York City, attracted a large wave of Austrian immigrants, who also settled in significant numbers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Other destinations for Austrian immigrants included Illinois, Iowa, and states like Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Texas, where they worked in agriculture or as laborers, saloon keepers, waiters, and steel workers.

Characteristics Values
Number of Austrian immigrants in the USA in 1900 275,000
States with the largest Austrian American populations New York, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio
Austrian settlement in the USA before 1880 Illinois, Iowa
Austrian settlement in the USA after 1880 Urbanized centers of the northeastern USA, especially New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut
Austrian settlement in the USA after 1875 Chicago, Pennsylvania
Austrian province with the largest group of emigrants Burgenland
Number of Burgenlanders emigrating to the USA in 1922 61% of Austrian emigrants
Number of Burgenlanders emigrating to the USA in 1923 72% of Austrian emigrants
Number of Burgenlanders emigrating to the USA from 1922-1923 600 people per month
Number of Burgenlanders living in the USA in 1975 78,000
Burgenlander associations in North America New York, Chicago, Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania), Toronto (Canada)
Number of people of Austrian descent in Buenos Aires in the early 1930s 9,000
Number of Austrian immigrants in the USA in 1990 948,558
Number of people in the USA born in Austria who identified as Austrian in 2015 26,603

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Austrian immigrants settled in New York City, Chicago, and Pittsburgh

Austrian immigrants have settled in various parts of the United States, with New York, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, and Ohio being the states with the largest Austrian American populations. However, this may be an undercount as many German Americans, Czech Americans, Polish Americans, Slovak Americans, and other Americans with Central European ancestry can trace their roots to the Habsburg territories of Austria.

New York City

New York City has been a popular destination for Austrian immigrants, with 93,083 Austrian Americans currently living in the state of New York. Austrian-Americans who have made significant contributions and settled in New York City include Bob Iger, the longtime CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and Jerry Iger, a famed American cartoonist and founder of Eisner & Iger.

Chicago

Chicago, known for its industrial and employment opportunities in railroads, canals, and meatpacking plants, attracted many Austrian immigrants. They settled in various neighborhoods, such as Lincoln Square, which still maintains a strong German identity due to the significant German-speaking population that settled there.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was another hub for Austrian immigrants, particularly those from the Habsburg Monarchy. Between 1902 and 1911, 7.5 percent of Pittsburgh's population was from Austria-Hungary, and they found work in the city's industrial centers.

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Many Austrian immigrants were farmers in the centre of the country

Austrian immigrants to the United States have a long history, with the earliest documented German Austrian settlers arriving in the colony of Georgia in 1734. However, it was in the 19th and early 20th centuries that significant waves of Austrian immigration occurred, with many Austrians settling in urban centres in the Northeast, such as New York City, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. During this period, Austria was undergoing industrialization, and many immigrants were seeking new agricultural land. As a result, many Austrian immigrants were farmers, and they settled in various states across the country, including Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Texas.

The first sizable wave of Austrian immigrants tended to settle in the urbanized centres of the northeastern United States, particularly in New York City. This trend continued throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut attracting many Austrian immigrants. By 1930, Allentown, Pennsylvania, had an Austrian-born population of 6,500, making it the largest single ethnic minority in the town.

In addition to the Northeast, Austrian immigrants also settled in other parts of the country, particularly the Midwest. Illinois and Iowa were among the first states where Austrians settled in the mid-19th century, and they were supported by Catholic priests from Germany and Austria who oversaw their religious training and education. Later waves of Austrian immigrants continued to settle in the Midwest, with Chicago becoming a significant destination for Austrians starting in the late 19th century.

It is worth noting that Austrian immigrants quickly adapted to American society due to the cultural and linguistic similarities between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the United States. However, they also faced discrimination similar to that experienced by German immigrants because of their shared language and the associations with the World Wars. Despite these challenges, Austrian immigrants have contributed significantly to the religious, cultural, and economic diversity of the United States.

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Austrian immigrants also settled in the urbanised centres of the northeastern US

Austrian immigrants have settled in various parts of the United States, with the earliest documented German Austrian settlers arriving in the colony of Georgia in 1734. However, focusing on the urbanised centres of the northeastern US, we can identify several key destinations for Austrian immigrants.

New York City stands out as a prominent hub, attracting Austrian immigrants since the first significant wave of Austrian immigration to the US. The city's appeal is evident from the fact that, according to the 2000 US census, New York State had the largest population of Austrian Americans, with 93,083 individuals of full or partial Austrian descent. The concentration of Burgenlanders, a group of Austrian emigrants from the province of Burgenland, is particularly notable in New York.

Pennsylvania, specifically Allentown, also became a significant destination for Austrian immigrants in the northeastern US. In 1930, Allentown had an Austrian-born population of 6,500, making it the largest single ethnic minority in the town. Lehigh Valley, located within Pennsylvania, is another area with a notable presence of Austrian immigrants. This region has strong ties to Burgenlanders, as evidenced by the inclusion of Lehigh Valley in the main concentration areas of Burgenlander associations in North America.

Chicago, Illinois, is another urban centre in the northeast that attracted Austrian immigrants. The settlement of Austrians in Chicago dates back to around 1880 when the first Burgenlanders settled in the city. Over time, a substantial Austrian community developed in Chicago, contributing to the diverse ethnic fabric of the city.

In addition to these primary destinations, Austrian immigrants have also settled in other northeastern cities, such as Cleveland, Ohio, and New Jersey. The state of Ohio, in particular, has drawn Austrian immigrants, with a notable example being the settlement of over 7,000 immigrants from a single district in northern Hungary in Bodrogköz.

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61% of Austrian immigrants to America in 1922 were from Burgenland

Austrian immigration to America has a long history, with the first documented Austrian settlers arriving in 1734. However, the specific patterns of Austrian immigration can be challenging to determine, especially before 1918, when Austria was part of the diverse and sprawling Habsburg Empire or the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In the early years of the 20th century, Austrian immigration to the United States was relatively low, with fewer than 20,000 Austrians immigrating between 1919 and 1924. Notably, in 1922, 61% of Austrian immigrants to America came from Burgenland, an agricultural province to the southeast of Vienna. This trend continued in 1923, when the number reached 72%, with Burgenlanders emigrating at a rate of 600 people per month. Burgenland has historically been the Austrian province with the highest number of emigrants. The pre-World War I migration of Burgenlanders to America began when steamboats replaced sailing boats in 1875, and the first Burgenlanders settled in Chicago and Pennsylvania around 1880.

During the late 1930s, a new wave of Austrian immigrants, primarily well-educated urban Jews, fled Nazi persecution and Hitler's regime. Between the annexation of Austria in 1938 and the outbreak of war in 1941, approximately 29,000 Jewish Austrians emigrated to the United States. These immigrants included professionals such as doctors, lawyers, architects, and artists.

In the years following World War II, from 1945 to 1960, around 40,000 Austrians emigrated to the United States. However, since the 1960s, Austrian immigration has significantly decreased due to Austria's development into a wealthy and stable nation. According to the 1990 U.S. census, there were 948,558 citizens of Austrian ancestry in the country, and this number decreased slightly to 948,553 in the 2015 census.

Austrian immigrants have historically settled in urban centers in the northeastern United States, particularly in New York City, which has the largest Austrian American population. Other states with significant Austrian American populations include California, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, and Ohio. Austrian immigrants have generally adapted well to American society due to their familiarity with cultural diversity and their ability to quickly learn new languages and customs.

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Austrian immigrants settled in the US states of New York, California, and Pennsylvania

Austrian immigration to the United States has occurred in waves, with the first wave probably starting in 1734 when a group of 50 families from Salzburg migrated to Georgia due to religious persecution. The second wave began in the late 19th century, with many Austrians settling in New York City, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. This wave consisted of Austrians seeking new agricultural land as their homeland underwent industrialization. From 1901 to 1910, Austrians were among the ten largest immigrant groups in the United States, with over 2.1 million Austrians emigrating. However, this wave ended with the onset of World War I, and Austrian immigration slowed during the Depression years.

During the late 1930s, a third wave of Austrian immigrants came to the United States, this time consisting mainly of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. Between 1941 and 1945, around 29,000 Jewish Austrians emigrated, and from 1945 to 1960, another 40,000 Austrians followed. Many of these immigrants were professionals, including doctors, lawyers, architects, and artists.

According to the 2000 U.S. census, there were 735,128 Americans of full or partial Austrian descent, with the largest populations in New York (93,083), California (84,959), and Pennsylvania (58,002). Many Austrian immigrants settled in New York City, with notable Austrian-Americans from the state including Bob Iger, longtime CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and Jerry Iger, a famed cartoonist and industry trailblazer.

California also has a significant Austrian population, with many settling in the state's large cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Travis Kalanick, the founder of Uber Technologies, was born in California and has Austrian ancestry. Pennsylvania attracted Austrian immigrants due to the availability of jobs in cement and steel factories. Most Austrian Americans in Pennsylvania reside in the Lehigh Valley.

Frequently asked questions

Austrian soldiers from the Austro-Hungarian Empire settled in New France (now Quebec) in the 17th century.

The earliest documented German Austrian settlers in America were 50 Protestant families from Salzburg who arrived in Georgia in 1734. They established the settlement of Ebenezer near Savannah.

In the 19th century, Austrian immigrants settled in urbanized centres in the northeastern United States, particularly New York City, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. They also settled in other cities like St. Louis, Cleveland, and Allentown, Pennsylvania. Some Austrians became farmers in states like Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Texas.

In the 20th century, Austrian immigrants continued to settle in cities like New York, Chicago, and Pennsylvania. The states with the largest Austrian American populations in 2000 were New York, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, and Ohio.

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