Bosniak Americans ( bs, Američki Bošnjaci) are
Americans
Americans are the Citizenship of the United States, citizens and United States nationality law, nationals of the United States, United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many Multi ...
whose ancestry can be traced to
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...
and the
Sanjak
Sanjaks (liwāʾ) (plural form: alwiyāʾ)
* Armenian language, Armenian: նահանգ (''nahang''; meaning "province")
* Bulgarian language, Bulgarian: окръг (''okrǔg''; meaning "county", "province", or "region")
* el, Διοίκησι ...
region. The majority of Bosniak Americans immigrated to the United States during the
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War ( sh, Rat u Bosni i Hercegovini / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The war is commonly seen as having started ...
which lasted from 1992 to 1995. Nevertheless, the first Bosniaks settled in
Chicago
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in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The largest Bosniak American population can be found in
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
and
Chicago
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which boasts the largest number of Bosniaks in the world outside
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
.
History
Early period
The first Bosniaks settled in
Chicago
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in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bosniak immigrants were of Muslim faith so they were the early leaders in the establishment of Chicago's Muslim community. In 1906, they established Dzemijetul Hajrije (The Benevolent Society) of Illinois to preserve the community's religious and national traditions as well as to provide assistance for funerals and illness. The organization established chapters in
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city has been historically dominated by major industrial activity and is home to U.S. Steel's Gary Works, the largest steel mill complex in North America. Gary is located along the ...
, in 1913, and
Butte, Montana
Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the ...
, in 1916, and is the oldest existing Muslim organization in the United States.
Bosnian War (1992–1995)
The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995 brought the largest influx of Bosniaks to St Louis, which became the most popular United States destination for Bosniak refugees. It is estimated that 40,000 refugees moved to the St. Louis area in the 1990s and early 2000s, bringing the total St. Louis Bosniak population to some 70,000.
In Chicago, the Bosniak community has largely settled in the northern part of the city, between Lawrence and Howard, from Clark to Lake Michigan.
Many refugees suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of gruesome experiences in concentration camps and the death of family and friends. The Illinois Department of Human Services founded the Bosnian Refugee Center in 1994 with the help of public and private agencies to assist the newcomers, and in 1997 it became the nonprofit Bosnian & American Community Center. Staffed by Bosniak refugees, the center serves all refugees by providing community services that include educational and family programs, counseling, and cultural activities.
Notable people
See also
*
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks ( bs, Bošnjaci, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia, which is today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who share a common Bosnian ancestry ...
*
Bosnian Americans
Bosnian Americans are Americans whose ancestry can be traced to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The vast majority of Bosnian Americans immigrated to the United States during and after the Bosnian War which lasted from 1992–95. Nevertheless, many Bosnia ...
*
Bosnia and Herzegovina–United States relations
Relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States are described as very strong.
History
The 1992–95 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina was ended with the help of participation by the United States in brokering the 1995 Dayton Agreeme ...
References
External links
Congress of Bosniaks in North AmericaBosniaks in North AmericaSt. Louis BosnianBHAAAS
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America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
Eastern European diaspora in the United States
Bosniak diaspora