Czech Americans ( cz, Čechoameričané), known in the 19th and early 20th century as Bohemian Americans, are citizens of the United States whose ancestry is wholly or partly originate from the
Czech lands
The Czech lands or the Bohemian lands ( cs, České země ) are the three historical regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia. Together the three have formed the Czech part of Czechoslovakia since 1918, the Czech Socialist Republic since 1 ...
, a term which refers to the majority of the traditional
lands of the Bohemian Crown
The Lands of the Bohemian Crown were a number of incorporated states in Central Europe during the medieval and early modern periods connected by feudal relations under the Bohemian kings. The crown lands primarily consisted of the Kingdom of B ...
, namely
Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
,
Moravia
Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The me ...
and
Czech Silesia
Czech Silesia (, also , ; cs, České Slezsko; szl, Czeski Ślōnsk; sli, Tschechisch-Schläsing; german: Tschechisch-Schlesien; pl, Śląsk Czeski) is the part of the historical region of Silesia now in the Czech Republic. Czech Silesia is, ...
. These lands over time have been governed by a variety of states, including the
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia ( cs, České království),; la, link=no, Regnum Bohemiae sometimes in English literature referred to as the Czech Kingdom, was a medieval and early modern monarchy in Central Europe, the predecessor of the modern Czec ...
, the
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central-Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...
,
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
, and the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
also known by its short-form name, Czechia. Germans from the Czech lands who emigrated to the United States are usually identified as
German American
German Americans (german: Deutschamerikaner, ) are Americans who have full or partial German ancestry. With an estimated size of approximately 43 million in 2019, German Americans are the largest of the self-reported ancestry groups by the Unite ...
s, or, more specifically, as Americans of
German Bohemian
German Bohemians (german: Deutschböhmen und Deutschmährer, i.e. German Bohemians and German Moravians), later known as Sudeten Germans, were ethnic Germans living in the Czech lands of the Bohemian Crown, which later became an integral part ...
descent. According to the
2000 US census
The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 cen ...
, there are 1,262,527 Americans of full or partial Czech descent, in addition to 441,403 persons who list their ancestry as
Czechoslovak
Czechoslovak may refer to:
*A demonym or adjective pertaining to Czechoslovakia (1918–93)
**First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–38)
**Second Czechoslovak Republic (1938–39)
**Third Czechoslovak Republic (1948–60)
**Fourth Czechoslovak Repub ...
. Historical information about Czechs in America is available thanks to people such as
Mila Rechcigl
Miloslav Rechcigl, Jr., or Mila Rechcigl, is a trained biochemist, nutritionist and cancer researcher, writer, editor, historian, bibliographer and genealogist. He was one of the founders and past President for many years of the Czechoslovak Soci ...
.
History
The first documented case of the entry of
Czechs
The Czechs ( cs, Češi, ; singular Czech, masculine: ''Čech'' , singular feminine: ''Češka'' ), or the Czech people (), are a West Slavic ethnic group and a nation native to the Czech Republic in Central Europe, who share a common ancestry, c ...
to the North American shores is of
Joachim Gans
Joachim Gans (other spellings: Jeochim, Jochim, Gaunz, Ganse, Gaunse) was a Bohemian mining expert, renowned for being the first Jew in North America.Grassl, Gary C. ''Joachim Ganz of Prague: The First Jew in English America.''
Biography
Early l ...
of
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
, who came to
Roanoke,
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
in 1585 with an expedition of explorers organized by Sir
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellion ...
(1552–1618).
Augustine Herman
Augustine Herman, First Lord of Bohemia Manor (Czech: Augustin Heřman, c. 1621 – September 1686) was a Bohemian explorer, merchant and cartographer who lived in New Amsterdam and Cecil County, Maryland. In the employment of Cecil Calvert, ...
(1621–1686) was the first documented Czech settler. He was a
surveyor
Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is ca ...
and skilled
draftsman
A drafter (also draughtsman / draughtswoman in British and Commonwealth English, draftsman / draftswoman or drafting technician in American and Canadian English) is an engineering technician who makes detailed technical drawings or plans for m ...
, successful planter and developer of new lands, a shrewd and enterprising merchant, a bold politician and effective diplomat, fluent in several languages. After coming to
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam ( nl, Nieuw Amsterdam, or ) was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''factory'' gave rise ...
(present
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
), he became one of the most influential people in the Dutch Province which led to his appointment to the Council of Nine to advise the New Amsterdam Governor
Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant (; in Dutch also ''Pieter'' and ''Petrus'' Stuyvesant, ; 1610 – August 1672)Mooney, James E. "Stuyvesant, Peter" in p.1256 was a Dutch colonial officer who served as the last Dutch director-general of the colony of New Net ...
. One of his greatest achievements was his celebrated map of
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
and
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
commissioned by Lord Baltimore on which he began working in earnest after removing to the English Province of
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
.
Lord Baltimore was so pleased with the map that he rewarded Herman with a large estate, named by Herman "
Bohemia Manor", and the hereditary title
Lord
Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or ar ...
.
There was another Bohemian living in New Amsterdam at that time,
Frederick Philipse
Frederick Philipse (born Frederick Flypsen;Appleton, W.S. ''The Heraldic Journal, Recording the Amorial Bearings and Genealogies of American Families'', Wiggen & Lunt, Boston, 1867 1626 in Bolsward, Netherlands – December 23, 1702), first Lord ...
(1626–1720), who became equally famous. He was a successful merchant who, eventually, became the wealthiest person in the entire Dutch Province. Philipse was originally from
Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
, from an aristocratic
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
family who had to leave their native land to save their lives, after the
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (80 ...
.
The first significant wave of Czech colonists was of the
Moravian Brethren
, image = AgnusDeiWindow.jpg
, imagewidth = 250px
, caption = Church emblem featuring the Agnus Dei.Stained glass at the Rights Chapel of Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
, main_classification = Proto-Prot ...
who began arriving on the American shores in the first half of the 18th century.
Moravian Brethren
, image = AgnusDeiWindow.jpg
, imagewidth = 250px
, caption = Church emblem featuring the Agnus Dei.Stained glass at the Rights Chapel of Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
, main_classification = Proto-Prot ...
were the followers of the teachings of the Czech religious reformer and martyr
Jan Hus
Jan Hus (; ; 1370 – 6 July 1415), sometimes anglicized as John Hus or John Huss, and referred to in historical texts as ''Iohannes Hus'' or ''Johannes Huss'', was a Czech theologian and philosopher who became a Church reformer and the inspir ...
(1370–1415),
Petr Chelčický
Petr Chelčický (; c. 1390 – c. 1460) was a Czech Christian spiritual leader and author in the 15th century Bohemia, now the Czech Republic. He was one of the most influential thinkers of the Bohemian Reformation. Petr Chelčický inspired ...
and Bishop
John Amos Comenius
John Amos Comenius (; cs, Jan Amos Komenský; pl, Jan Amos Komeński; german: Johann Amos Comenius; Latinized: ''Ioannes Amos Comenius''; 28 March 1592 – 15 November 1670) was a Czech philosopher, pedagogue and theologian who is considere ...
(1592–1670). They were true heirs of the ancient "Unitas fratrum bohemicorum" -
Unity of the Brethren Unity of the Brethren (Latin ''Unitas Fratrum'') may refer to:
*Unity of the Brethren (Czech Republic), the province of the Moravian Church in the Czech Republic
*Unity of the Brethren (Texas), a Protestant church formed in the 1800s by Czech immig ...
, who found a temporary refuge in
Herrnhut
Herrnhut ( Sorbian: ''Ochranow''; cs, Ochranov) is an Upper Lusatian town in the Görlitz district in Saxony, Germany, known for the community of the Moravian Church established by Nicolas Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf in 1722.
Geography
It is ...
( cz, Ochranov) in Lusatia under the patronage of Count
Nikolaus Zinzendorf (1700–1760). Because of the worsening political and religious situation in
Saxony
Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
, the Moravian Brethren, as they began calling themselves, decided to emigrate to North America.
![Anton Cermak cph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Anton_Cermak_cph.3b27410.jpg)
This group started coming in 1735, when they first settled in
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Br ...
, and then in
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, from which they spread to other states after the
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
, especially
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
. The Moravians established a number of settlements, such as
Bethlehem
Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital o ...
and
Lititz in Pennsylvania and
Salem in
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
. Moravians made great contributions to the growth and development of the US. 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
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
are the first evidence of Moravian instrumental music in America.
In 1776, at the time of the
Declaration of Independence
A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the ...
, more than two thousand
Moravian Brethren
, image = AgnusDeiWindow.jpg
, imagewidth = 250px
, caption = Church emblem featuring the Agnus Dei.Stained glass at the Rights Chapel of Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
, main_classification = Proto-Prot ...
lived in the colonies. President
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...
designated special lands to the missionaries to civilize the Indians and promote Christianity. The free uncultivated land in America encouraged immigration throughout the nineteenth century; most of the immigrants were farmers and settled in the
Midwestern states
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
.
The first major immigration of Czechs occurred in 1848 when the Czech "
Forty Eighters" fled to the United States to escape the political persecution by the
Austrian Habsburgs. During the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, Czechs served in both the
Confederate
Confederacy or confederate may refer to:
States or communities
* Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities
* Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...
and Union army, but as with most immigrant groups, the majority fought for the
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
.
Immigration resumed and reached a peak in 1907, when 13,554 Czechs entered the eastern ports. Unlike previous immigration, new immigrants were predominantly
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. Although some of the
anticlericalism
Anti-clericalism is opposition to religious authority, typically in social or political matters. Historical anti-clericalism has mainly been opposed to the influence of Roman Catholicism. Anti-clericalism is related to secularism, which seeks to ...
of the Czechs in Europe came to the United States, Czech Americans are, on the whole, much more likely to be practicing Catholics than Czechs in Europe.
By 1910, the Czech population was 349,000, and by 1940 it was 1,764,000. The
U.S. Bureau of the Census
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
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. Some were also counted as from Germany if they were German-speakers or rarely Polish if the recorder could not distinguish the language.
Slovaks
The Slovaks ( sk, Slováci, singular: ''Slovák'', feminine: ''Slovenka'', plural: ''Slovenky'') are a West Slavic ethnic group and nation native to Slovakia who share a common ancestry, culture, history and speak Slovak.
In Slovakia, 4.4 mi ...
were often listed as from
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
. After the formation of
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
in 1918, Czechs and Slovaks were also listed under the new blanket category.
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
Eliška "Elsie" Paroubek (1906–1911) was a Czech American girl who was a victim of kidnapping and murder in the spring of 1911. Her disappearance and the subsequent search for her preoccupied Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota law enforcement ...
. 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.
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:
#
Conway, ND
Conway is a city in Walsh County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 15 at the 2020 census. Conway was founded in 1885.
Geography
Conway is located at (48.233996, -97.674728).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the cit ...
55.2%
#
West, TX
West is a city in McLennan County, Texas, McLennan County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city population was 2,531. It is named after Thomas West, the first postmaster of the city. The city is locat ...
40.9%
#
Oak Creek, NE 38.2%
#
Wilber, NE 37.3%
#
Shiner, TX 32.1%
#
Montgomery, MN
Montgomery is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States, 45 miles south of Minneapolis. It was named after Richard Montgomery, an Irish- American soldier who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary ...
(township) 30.9%
#
Lonsdale, MN 30.5%
#
Wheatland, MN 29.9%
#
Tyndall, SD
Tyndall (pronounced TIN'-duhl) is a city in and the county seat of Bon Homme County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,057 at the 2020 census.
History
Tyndall was established in 1879 as the county seat of Bon Homme County. It w ...
29.5%
#
David City, NE 28.0%
#
Montgomery, MN
Montgomery is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States, 45 miles south of Minneapolis. It was named after Richard Montgomery, an Irish- American soldier who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary ...
(city) 26.3%
#
Franklin, WI 26.1%
#
Lanesburgh, MN 25.2%
#
Granger, TX
Granger is a city in Williamson County, Texas, Williamson County, Texas, United States. It was incorporated in 1891. The population was 1,183 at the 2020 census.
History
In the late 19th century, Granger was one of the centers of the large Moravi ...
25.1%
#
Port Costa, CA 24.0%
#
Schulenburg, TX
Schulenburg is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,633 at the 2020 census. Known for its German culture, Schulenburg is home of the Texas Polka Music Museum. It is in a rural, agricultural area settled by Germa ...
23.7%
#
New Prague, MN and
Erin, MN 23.5%
#
Wahoo, NE 22.7%
#
Carlton, WI 22.4%
#
Wallis, TX 22.0%
#
Hallettsville, TX
Hallettsville is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. Its population was 2,731 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lavaca County. Hallettsville also has a sizable German-Texan population as the towns founders were mainly German ...
21.5%
#
Hale, MN 20.8%
#
Montpelier, WI
Montpelier is a town in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,306 at the 2010 census. The unincorporated communities of Cherneyville, Ellisville, and Pilsen are in the town, and the unincorporated community of Neuern ...
19.7%
#
Flatonia, TX 19.5%
#
West Kewaunee, WI
West Kewaunee is a town (Wisconsin), town in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,296 at the 2010 census. The unincorporated communities of Birchwood, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, Birchwood, Eas ...
19.2%
#
Schuyler, NE and
Webster, NE 19.0%
#
Gibson, WI 18.9%
#
Hillsboro, WI 18.4%
#
Kossuth, WI
Kossuth is a town in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,033 at the 2000 census. The village of Francis Creek, Wisconsin, Francis Creek and the unincorporated community of Rockwood, Wiscons ...
18.2%
#
Lexington, MN
Lexington is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States, and is a northern suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The population was 2,049 at the 2010 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a ...
18.1%
#
Mishicot, WI 16.9%
#
Kewaunee, WI and
North Bend, NE 16.7%
#
Franklin, WI 15.9%
#
Oak Grove, WI and
Caldwell, TX 15.7%
#
Lake Mary, MN 15.4%
#
Solon, IA 15.2%
#
Mishicot, WI 15.0%
#
Helena, MN 14.9%
#
Marietta, NE 14.7%
#
Stickney, IL 14.5%
#
Ord, NE (township) and
Weimar, TX 14.3%
#
Crete, NE
Crete is a city in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,099 at the 2020 census.
History
The railroad was extended to the area in 1870, bringing settlers. In 1871, two rival towns merged to form a new town, which was name ...
14.2%
#
Park River, ND 14.1%
#
Ord, NE (city) and
La Grange, TX
La Grange ( ) is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States, near the Colorado River. La Grange is in the center of the Texas-German belt. The population was 4,391 at the 2020 census, and in 2018 the estimated population was 4,632. La Grange ...
14.0%
#
Wagner, SD
Wagner is a city in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,490 at the 2020 census. The city is served by Wagner Municipal Airport as well as YST Transit buses.
History
Wagner was founded in 1900. The town was inco ...
13.6%
#
Needville, TX
Needville is a city in Fort Bend County, Texas, Fort Bend County, Texas, United States. It is within the metropolitan area. The population was 3,089 at the 2020 census.
History
August Schendel founded the town of Schendelville in 1891 that conta ...
13.2%
#
Calmar, IA and
Worcester, WI 13.0%
#
Webster, MN 12.9%
#
North Riverside, IL 12.4%
#
Belle Plaine, IA
Belle Plaine is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,330 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Belle Plaine was founded in 1862 when it was certain the railroad w ...
12.3%
#
El Campo, TX
El Campo is a city in Wharton County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,350 at the 2020 Census, making it the largest city in Wharton County.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5&nb ...
12.2%
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:
#
Masaryktown, FL
Masaryktown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hernando County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,077 at the 2020 census. It is named after the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk ...
3.1%
#
Mifflinville, PA 2.2%
#
Gulf Shores, AL
Gulf Shores is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 9,741.
Geography
Gulf Shores is located on the Gulf of Mexico at 30°16'4.069" North, 87°42'5.285" West (30.267797, −87.70 ...
2.1%
#
North Riverside, IL and
Sharon Springs, NY 2.0%
#
Lyons, IL 1.6%
#
Rose, WI
Rose is a town in Waushara County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 595 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Heffron is located partially in the town.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town h ...
,
North Lynbrook, NY and
Anna Maria, FL 1.5%
#
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Oakbrook Terrace is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, and is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 2,751. It is the smallest town in DuPage County, in terms of area and population.
History
Oakbrook Terrace was original ...
and
Danville, AR
Danville is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2010 census. Along with Dardanelle, it is one of two county seats for Yell County.
Danville is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
1.4%
#
Bee Ridge, FL
Bee Ridge is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,598 at the 2010 U.S. Census. It is part of the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Acc ...
,
Cameron, TX,
Lenox, MA
Lenox is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The town is based in Western Massachusetts and part of the Pittsfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,095 at the 2020 census. Lenox is the site of Shakespeare & Company and T ...
,
Verdigre, NE
Verdigre is a village in Knox County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 575 at the 2010 census.
History
Verdigre was platted in 1887 shortly before the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad was extended to that point. It took i ...
, and
Willowbrook, IL 1.2%
#
Lower Grand Lagoon, FL
Lower Grand Lagoon is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bay County, Florida, Bay County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,881 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Panama City, Florida, Panama City–Lynn Haven, Florida, Lynn Have ...
,
Beachwood, OH
Beachwood is a city in eastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, and a suburb of Cleveland. As of the 2020 census the city's population was 14,040.
History
The land that eventually became Beachwood was originally part of the Connecticut Wes ...
,
Allamuchy-Panther Valley, NJ
Allamuchy-Panther Valley is an unincorporated community and former census-designated place located within Allamuchy Township, in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the CDP's population was 3,125. ,
Mahopac, NY,
Black Diamond, FL
Black Diamond is a census-designated place (CDP) in Citrus County, Florida, Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,101 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, up from 694 in 2000.
Geography
Black Diamond is located no ...
, and
Glenview, KY
Glenview is a 6th-class city along the southern bank of the Ohio River in northeastern Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States The population was 531 at the 2010 census.
Glenview has the 2nd-highest per capita income within Kentucky and the ...
1.1%
#
Key West, FL
Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it con ...
,
Woodstock, NY
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States, in the northern part of the county, northwest of Kingston, NY. It lies within the borders of the Catskill Park. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 in 2000 ...
,
Madison Park, NJ,
Belleair Beach, FL
Belleair Beach is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,560 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Belleair Beach is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is ...
,
South Amboy, NJ,
Colver, PA
Colver is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 959 at the 2010 census.
Colver got its name from B. Dawson Coleman and John Heisley Weaver, using the firs ...
,
Herricks, NY,
Horine, MO,
Shelburne, MA
Shelburne is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,884 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The village of Shelburne Falls is located partly in S ...
, and
Gang Mills, NY 1.0%
The states with the largest Czech American populations
The states with the largest Czech American populations are:
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:
Notable people
Festivals
Many cities in the United States hold festivals celebrating Czech culture and cuisine.
![Praha texas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Praha_texas.jpeg)
*Iowa
**
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids () is the second-largest city in Iowa, United States and is the county seat of Linn County, Iowa, Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River (Iowa River), Cedar River, north of Iowa City, Iowa, Iowa City and north ...
- Saint Ludmila's Church - June
**
Protivin, Iowa
Protivin is a city in Chickasaw and Howard counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 269 at the time of the 2020 census. Early settlers named the city after the Bohemian town of Protivín in what is now the south of the Czech Republ ...
- Czech Days. August
*Kansas
**
Wilson, Kansas
Wilson is a city in Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States. The community promotes itself as the "Czech Capital of Kansas" due to the role of Czech immigrant settlers in its early history. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city w ...
- Czech Festival, last weekend in July.
*Maryland
**
Parkville, Maryland
Parkville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 30,734.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area ...
- Czech and Slovak Heritage Festival. Started in 1987 to celebrate Baltimore's
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
* Czech, ...
and Slovak heritage.
*Minnesota
**
Bechyn, Minnesota Czechfest 2nd Sunday in August.
**
Montgomery, Minnesota
Montgomery is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States, 45 miles south of Minneapolis. It was named after Richard Montgomery, an Irish-American soldier who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary ...
*
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
New Prague ( ) is a city in Scott and Le Sueur counties in the state of Minnesota. The population was 7,321 at the 2010 census.
History
Origin
New Prague was laid out in 1856, and named after Prague, the capital of Bohemia (now the Czech Re ...
-
Dozinky Festival - September
**
St. Paul, Minnesota - Czech and Slovak Festival - September
*Nebraska
**
Wilber, Nebraska
Wilber is a city in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,855 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Saline County. Wilber is the official "Czech Capital of the USA" and hosts an annual Czech festival in August. Wilb ...
- Wilber Czech Days
**
Verdigre, Nebraska
Verdigre is a village in Knox County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 575 at the 2010 census.
History
Verdigre was platted in 1887 shortly before the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad was extended to that point. It took i ...
- Kolach Days
*Oklahoma
**
Prague, Oklahoma
Prague () is a city in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,346 at the 2020 census, an 1.76 percent decrease from the figure of 2,388 in 2010. Czech immigrants founded the city, and named it after the capital of the pres ...
- Kolache Festival, First Saturday in May
**
Yukon, Oklahoma
Yukon is a city in eastern Canadian County, Oklahoma, Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex, Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. The population was 22,709 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Fo ...
- Yukon Czech Festival, 1st Saturday in October
*Ohio
**DTJ Taborville in
Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio
Auburn Township is one of the sixteen townships of Geauga County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 6,443, up from 5,158 at the 2000 census. It is southeast of downtown Cleveland.
Geography
Located in the southern par ...
***Cesky Den (Czech Day), 2nd Sunday in July, since 1923
***Obzinky, 2nd Sunday in August, since 1934
*South Dakota
**
Tabor, South Dakota
Tabor (pronounced "TAY'-bur") is a town in Bon Homme County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 407 at the 2020 census.
History
The town is named after the town of Tábor in the Czech Republic, the native land of a large share of t ...
- Czech Days, third Friday and Saturday in June - www.taborczechdays.com
*Texas
**
Ennis, Texas
Ennis () is a city in eastern Ellis County, Texas. It is on the edge of the blackland prairie region of Texas. The population is 20,159 according to the 2020 census, with an estimated population of 21,210 in 2021. Ennis is home to the annual Nat ...
-
National Polka Festival three-day event is every Memorial Day weekend / Last weekend in May; event website: http://www.nationalpolkafestival.com/
**
Weimar
Weimar is a city in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in Central Germany between Erfurt in the west and Jena in the east, approximately southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together with the neighbouri ...
**
Hallettsville
Hallettsville is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. Its population was 2,731 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lavaca County. Hallettsville also has a sizable German-Texan population as the towns founders were mainly German ...
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
Hallettsville is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. Its population was 2,731 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lavaca County. Hallettsville also has a sizable German-Texan population as the towns founders were mainly German ...
Kolache Festival and the annual Bocktober festival.
**
Yoakum 2nd week of June as part of the annual Tom-Tom Festival
**
Missouri City
Missouri City is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County, Texas, Fort Bend County, with a small portion in Harris County, Texas, Harris County. As of the 2020 census, the c ...
**
Corpus Christi 3rd Saturday in March
**
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
4th Sunday in March and 3rd Sunday in May
**
Rosenberg First full weekend in May
**
Ennis
Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...
Memorial Day Weekend
**
San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, s ...
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
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...
Labor Day Weekend
**
Caldwell
Caldwell may refer to:
People
* Caldwell (surname)
* Caldwell (given name)
* Caldwell First Nation, a federally recognized Indian band in southern Ontario, Canada
Places
Great Britain
* Caldwell, Derbyshire, a hamlet
* Caldwell, East ...
Second Saturday in September
**
Pasadena
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.
Its ...
4th weekend in October
**
Crosby Crosby may refer to:
Places
;Canada
*Crosby, Ontario, part of the township of Rideau Lakes, Ontario
*Crosby, Ontario, a neighbourhood in the city of Markham, Ontario
;England
*Crosby, Cumbria
*Crosby, Lincolnshire
*Crosby, Merseyside
** Crosby (U ...
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
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
**
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
Hillsboro is a city in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,397 at the 2020 Census. The city is located within the Town of Hillsboro. Hillsboro is known as the Czech Capital of Wisconsin.
Geography
Hillsboro is located ...
- Český den, second full weekend in June. Started in 1983.
**
Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Kewaunee is a city in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,837 at the 2020 census. Located on the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan, the city is the county seat of Kewaunee County. Its Menominee name is ''Kewāneh'', ...
- Czech & Kolache Festival, the 1st full weekend in August at the beautiful Heritage Farm.
**
Phillips, Wisconsin
Phillips is a city and the county seat of Price County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,478 at the 2010 census.
History
The town of Phillips was platted in 1876 and named after Elijah B. Phillips, the general manager of the Wiscon ...
- Czech-Slovak Festival and Lidice & Ležáky Villages Memorial Service, 3rd full weekend in June. Started in 1988.
See also
*
Czech Brazilians
Czech Brazilians refer to Brazilians of Czech descent who were born in or who trace their ancestry to the territory of the historic Czech lands or succession states, now known as the Czech Republic, and are residents and/or citizens of Brazil.
...
*
Czech Canadians
Czech Canadians are Canadian citizens of Czech ancestry or Czech-born people who reside in Canada. They were frequently called Bohemian Canadians until the late 19th century. According to the 2006 Canadian census, there were 98,090 Canadians of f ...
*
Czech Texans
Czech Texans are residents of the state of Texas who are of Czech ancestry. Large scale Czech immigration to Texas began after the Revolutions of 1848 changed the political climate in Central Europe, and after a brief interruption during the U.S. ...
*
Czech South Dakotans
Czech South Dakotans are residents of the state of South Dakota who are of Czech Republic, Czech ancestry. The Czech language is the seventh most common language spoken in South Dakota, with 645 speakers.
History
The first Czech immigrants sta ...
*
Demographics of the Czech Republic
This article is about the demographic features of the population of the Czech Republic, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, and religious affiliations.
Population
With an estimat ...
*
European Americans
European Americans (also referred to as Euro-Americans) are Americans of European ancestry. This term includes people who are descended from the first European settlers in the United States as well as people who are descended from more recent Eu ...
*
Czech Republic–United States relations
Relations between the Czech Republic and the United States were officially established in 1918, but has been cut throughout the history, exactly between 1948-1989 when the Czech Republic (at that time as Czechoslovakia) was under the soviet influe ...
References
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 Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI) is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to promoting genealogical research and interest in heritage among descendants of ethnic groups of former Czechoslovakia ( Bohemians, Moravians, ...
, 1996.
* Hampl, Patricia. ''A Romantic Education''. Houghton Mifflin, 1981.
*
* 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).
External links
Writings on Czech Americans
{{Czech diaspora
American people of Czechoslovak descent
United States
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 ...
European-American society