Greek Americans ( el, Ελληνοαμερικανοί ''Ellinoamerikanoí'' ''Ellinoamerikánoi'' )
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 ...
of full or partial
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
ancestry. The lowest estimate is that 1.2 million Americans are of Greek descent while the highest estimate suggests over 3 million.
350,000 people older than five spoke
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
at home in 2010.
Greek Americans have the highest concentrations in the
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,[ and ]Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
[ regions, but have settled in major ]metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...
s across the United States. In 2000, Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 23,484 at the 2010 census. Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US. Downtown Tarpon Springs has long been a focal po ...
, was home to the highest per capita representation of Greek Americans in the country (25%). The United States is home to the largest number of Greeks outside of Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, followed by Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
and Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
History
Early history
The first Greek known to have been to what is now the United States was Don Doroteo Teodoro, a sailor who landed in Boca Ciega Bay at the Jungle Prada site in present-day St. Petersburg, FL with the Narváez expedition
The Narváez expedition was a Spanish journey of exploration and colonization started in 1527 that intended to establish colonial settlements and garrisons in Florida. The expedition was initially led by Pánfilo de Narváez, who died in 1528. M ...
in 1528. He was instrumental in building the rafts that the expedition survivors built and sailed from present-day St. Mark's River in Florida until they were shipwrecked near Galveston Island, Texas. Teodoro had been captured by natives as they sailed along the Gulf coast shoreline toward the west, and was never seen again. He was presumably killed by the natives.
In 1592, Greek captain Juan de Fuca
Juan de Fuca (10 June 1536, Cefalonia 23 July 1602, Cefalonia)Greek Consulate of Vancouver,Greek Pioneers: Juan de Fuca. was a Greeks, Greek maritime pilot, pilot who served Philip II of Spain, PhilipII of Spanish Empire, Spain. He is best know ...
(original name: Ioannis Fokas or Apostolos Valerianos) sailed up the Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
coast under the Spanish flag, in search of the fabled Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage (NWP) is the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The eastern route along the Arct ...
between the Pacific and the Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
. He reported discovering a body of water, a strait
A strait is an oceanic landform connecting two seas or two other large areas of water. The surface water generally flows at the same elevation on both sides and through the strait in either direction. Most commonly, it is a narrow ocean channe ...
which today bears his name: the Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca (officially named Juan de Fuca Strait in Canada) is a body of water about long that is the Salish Sea's outlet to the Pacific Ocean. The international boundary between Canada and the United States runs down the centre ...
, which today forms part of the Canada–United States border
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Can ...
.
Records show that a Greek, Michael Dry (Youris), became a naturalized
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...
citizen by act of the General Assembly of Maryland
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland that convenes within the State House in Annapolis. It is a bicameral body: the upper chamber, the Maryland Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber ...
in 1725. This makes Dry the first Greek positively known to reside permanently in what is today the United States.
About 500 Greeks from Smyrna
Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...
, Crete
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...
, and Mani
Mani may refer to:
Geography
* Maní, Casanare, a town and municipality in Casanare Department, Colombia
* Mani, Chad, a town and sub-prefecture in Chad
* Mani, Evros, a village in northeastern Greece
* Mani, Karnataka, a village in Dakshi ...
settled in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
New Smyrna Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States, located on the central east coast of the state, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Its population is 30,142 in 2020 by the United States Census Bureau.
The downtown section of ...
in 1768. The colony was unsuccessful, and the settlers moved to St. Augustine
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Afri ...
in 1776. In November 1777, a Greek chapel was established in St. Augustine, where Greeks could pray with their own rites
Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited, abbreviated as RITES Ltd, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, Government of India. It is an engineering consultancy corporation, specializing in the field ...
. Almost 200 years later, the chapel was designated the St Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine by the Greek Orthodox Church
The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also call ...
, and it exists today as a remnant of their presence, having been built atop the site of the Avero House, itself believed to be the first site of Greek Orthodox worship in the US.
The first noted Greek American scholar was John Paradise
John Paradise (1743–1795) was an Anglo-Greek linguist, known as a friend of Samuel Johnson and Fellow of the Royal Society.
Life
He was born at Thessalonica in April 1743, the son of Peter Paradise (died 1 February 1779), who was the English con ...
. He was pursuaded to immigrate to America by Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...
and 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 ...
, whom he met in Europe. Paradise married into the notable Ludwell family, one of the most prominent colonial families in 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 ...
.
Evstratii Delarov Evstratii Ivanovich Delarov (also spelled Evstrat Delarov and Eustrate Delarof, c. 1740 – 1806, el, Ευστράτιος Ντελάρωφ) was a Greek mariner who served with several Russian maritime fur trade companies in Russian America. H ...
, a native of the Peloponnese
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...
, was the first documented Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
explorer and merchant to arrive in Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
. From 1783 to 1791, he was in charge of all Russian trading operations in the Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi language, Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a cha ...
and in Alaska. He is today considered to have been the first ''de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
'' Governor of Alaska
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
.
Early records show Michel Dragon
Michel Dragon ( el, Μιχάλης Δράκος; 1739–1821) also known as Don Michael Dragon or Michael Dracos was a Greek merchant and lieutenant who served in the Spanish Army during the American Revolution, fighting with the Patriots for th ...
(Michalis Dracos) and Andrea Dimitry
Andrea Dimitry (January 1775 – March 1, 1852), also known as Andrea Drussakis Dimitry, was a Greek refugees, Greek refugee who migrated to New Orleans. He was a merchant and hero in the War of 1812. He married Marianne Celeste Dragon, Marianne C ...
(Andrea Drussakis Demetrios) settled in around 1799. Michel Dragon
Michel Dragon ( el, Μιχάλης Δράκος; 1739–1821) also known as Don Michael Dragon or Michael Dracos was a Greek merchant and lieutenant who served in the Spanish Army during the American Revolution, fighting with the Patriots for th ...
was a lieutenant in 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 ...
and Andrea Dimitry
Andrea Dimitry (January 1775 – March 1, 1852), also known as Andrea Drussakis Dimitry, was a Greek refugees, Greek refugee who migrated to New Orleans. He was a merchant and hero in the War of 1812. He married Marianne Celeste Dragon, Marianne C ...
participated in the War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
. Andrea
Andrea is a given name which is common worldwide for both males and females, cognate to Andreas, Andrej and Andrew.
Origin of the name
The name derives from the Greek word ἀνήρ (''anēr''), genitive ἀνδρός (''andrós''), that ref ...
married Michel Dragon's daughter, Marianne Celeste Dragon
Marie Celeste Dragon (1777–1856) was a wealthy creole slave owner, known for her portrait by José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza. She was the wife of Andrea Dimitry. They were an interracial couple. Dragon passed neither as black or w ...
, and established a small community in New Orleans. The marriage between them in 1799 was the first known marriage between Greeks in America. His son was United States ambassador to Costa Rica
The following is a list of United States ambassadors, or other chiefs of mission, to Costa Rica. On February 16, 2022, Cynthia Telles was sworn in as the 60th ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica.
See also
* Costa Rica – United States re ...
& Nicaragua Alexander Dimitry
Alexander Dimitry (February 7, 1805 – January 30, 1883) was a mixed race Louisiana creole.
He was the first state superintendent of public instruction in Louisiana, an author, diplomat, educator, journalist, lawyer, orator, and publicist. He ...
. Another Greek refugee named George Marshall
George Catlett Marshall Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the US Army under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry ...
also came to the United States around this period. He was born in Rhodes in 1782. Marshall joined the United States Navy in 1809 and he wrote ''Marshall's Practical Marine Gunnery''. Marshall had a successful naval career and became master gunner. His son George J Marshall also served in the navy. His son-in-law was George Sirian
George Sirian (1818 – December 21, 1891) was a Greek war orphan brought into the United States aboard the ("Old Ironsides"). He served in the United States Navy with distinction for over fifty years, first as an ordinary seaman, and later as a ...
. Due to problems with the straight of Gibraltar, America was desperate for trade with Europe. Pirates ransomed Americans which led to two Barbary wars. America eventually formed the Mediterranean Squadron.
19th century
Many American ships traveled to the Ottoman Empire, namely Ayvalık. The Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...
began in 1821 and lasted until 1830. Americans established missionaries in Greece. The missionaries included Jonas King Jonas King (born in Hawley, Massachusetts, 29 July 1792; died in Athens, Greece, 22 May 1869) was a Congregational clergyman from the United States who worked as a missionary, mainly in Greece. His activities in Greece were interrupted by a spell o ...
. Prominent American abolitionists Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe (November 10, 1801 – January 9, 1876) was an American physician, abolitionist, and advocate of education for the blind. He organized and was the first director of the Perkins Institution. In 1824 he had gone to Greece to ...
and Jonathan Peckham Miller
Jonathan may refer to:
*Jonathan (name), a masculine given name
Media
*Jonathan (1970 film), ''Jonathan'' (1970 film), a German film directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer
*Jonathan (2016 film), ''Jonathan'' (2016 film), a German film directed by ...
participated in the Greek War. Jonathan Peckham Miller
Jonathan may refer to:
*Jonathan (name), a masculine given name
Media
*Jonathan (1970 film), ''Jonathan'' (1970 film), a German film directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer
*Jonathan (2016 film), ''Jonathan'' (2016 film), a German film directed by ...
adopted Greek orphan Lucas M. Miller
Lucas Miltiades Miller (some sources report his first name as Lucius) (September 15, 1824December 4, 1902) was a Greek American merchant, attorney and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.
Biography
Born in Livadia in ...
. Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe (November 10, 1801 – January 9, 1876) was an American physician, abolitionist, and advocate of education for the blind. He organized and was the first director of the Perkins Institution. In 1824 he had gone to Greece to ...
also collected a number of refugees and brought them back to Boston. Some of the refugees he brought included John Celivergos Zachos
John Celivergos Zachos ( el, Ιωάννης Καλίβεργος Ζάχος; December 20, 1820 – March 20, 1898) was a Greek-American physician, literary scholar, elocutionist, author, lecturer, inventor, and educational pioneer. He was an ea ...
and author Christophorus Plato Castanis
Christophorus Plato Castanis ( el, Χριστόφορος Πλάτων Καστανής; 1814–1866; also known as Christophoros Castanis or Castanes and Christoforos Kastanis or Kastanes) was an Ottoman Greek academic, author and classicist. C ...
.
New England and Boston became home to countless Greek refugees during the 1820s. Some of them were: Author Petros Mengous
Petros, the original Greek and Coptic version of the name Peter, meaning "stone" or "rock", may refer to:
People
* Petros (given name)
* Petros (surname)
* Petros (footballer), Brazilian footballer Petros Matheus dos Santos Araújo (born 1989)
P ...
, Photius Fisk
Photios I ( el, Φώτιος, ''Phōtios''; c. 810/820 – 6 February 893), also spelled PhotiusFr. Justin Taylor, essay "Canon Law in the Age of the Fathers" (published in Jordan Hite, T.O.R., & Daniel J. Ward, O.S.B., "Readings, Cases, Materia ...
, Gregory Anthony Perdicaris
Gregory Anthony Perdicaris ( el, Γρηγόρης Αντώνης Περδικάρης; 1810 – April 18, 1883) was a Greek American statesman, lawyer, professor, author, and entrepreneur. Perdicaris raised awareness about Greece in the United S ...
, Evangelinos Apostolides Sophocles
Evangelinos Apostolides Sophocles ( el, Ευαγγελινός Αποστολίδης Σοφοκλής; March8, 1807December17, 1883) was a professor of classics and Modern Greek at Harvard University, and lexicographer. He was born in Tsagkarad ...
, George Colvocoresses
George Musalas "Colvos" Colvocoresses (October 22, 1816 – June 3, 1872) was a Greek-American United States Navy, Navy officer who commanded the during the American Civil War. From 1838 up until 1842, he took part in the United States Exploring ...
, Garafilia Mohalbi
Garafilia Mohalbi(y) (; 1817 – March 17, 1830) was a Greek slave that was rescued by an American merchant and sent to live with his family in Boston, Massachusetts. Born to a prominent family on the island of Psara, her parents were killed in 18 ...
. There was a large Greek presence at Mount Pleasant Classical Institute Mount Pleasant Classical Institute, was a boarding school for boys in Amherst, Massachusetts. It operated for five years from 1827 to 1832, and served ages 4–16. It was founded by Amherst College graduates Chauncey Colton D. D. and Francis Fel ...
and other local universities. There were hundreds of Greek orphans that arrived in New England. Some drastically contributed to the United States of America. The Greek Slave Movement
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
was initiated by Boston abolitionists.
The Greek Slave Movement started in the 1820s during the influx of young refugees to New England. The movement contributed to countless paintings, sculptures, poems, essays, and songs. The death of Greek slave Garafilia Mohalbi
Garafilia Mohalbi(y) (; 1817 – March 17, 1830) was a Greek slave that was rescued by an American merchant and sent to live with his family in Boston, Massachusetts. Born to a prominent family on the island of Psara, her parents were killed in 18 ...
was a trigger for sympathy. She was featured in many poems and songs. The Greek Slave Movement was so popular in American media that sculptor Hiram Powers
Hiram Powers (July 29, 1805 – June 27, 1873) was an American neoclassical sculptor. He was one of the first 19th-century American artists to gain an international reputation, largely based on his famous marble sculpture ''The Greek Slave''.
...
created The Greek Slave
''The Greek Slave'' is a marble sculpture by the American sculptor Hiram Powers. It was one of the best-known and critically acclaimed American artworks of the nineteenth century, and is among the most popular American sculptures ever. It was the ...
. The Greek Slave Movement was an abolitionist tool to abolish slavery in the United States. The theme eventually exploded some examples include: The Slave Market (Gérôme painting)
''The Slave Market'' () is an 1866 painting by the French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme. It depicts an unspecific Middle Eastern or North African setting where a man inspects the teeth of a nude, female slave.
The painting was bought by Adolphe Goup ...
, The Slave Market (Boulanger painting)
''The Slave Market'' is a painting first exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1886 by the French artist Gustave Boulanger, who specialized in classical and Orientalist genre scenes. Its title in the Salon catalogue was ''Un Maquignon d’esclaves à ...
, and the slave Market Otto Pilny
Otto Pilny (28 June 1866 – 22 July 1936) was a Swiss painter who specialized in Orientalist genre scenes.
Life and career
Born in Budweis in 1866, his family moved to Prague in 1873, and he presumably received his artistic education there; ...
. Some of the young Greek refugees became abolitionists.
John Celivergos Zachos
John Celivergos Zachos ( el, Ιωάννης Καλίβεργος Ζάχος; December 20, 1820 – March 20, 1898) was a Greek-American physician, literary scholar, elocutionist, author, lecturer, inventor, and educational pioneer. He was an ea ...
became a prominent educator. He was also a woman's rights activist and abolitionist. Photius Fisk
Photios I ( el, Φώτιος, ''Phōtios''; c. 810/820 – 6 February 893), also spelled PhotiusFr. Justin Taylor, essay "Canon Law in the Age of the Fathers" (published in Jordan Hite, T.O.R., & Daniel J. Ward, O.S.B., "Readings, Cases, Materia ...
was another abolitionist who fought for the anti-slavery cause. Gregory Anthony Perdicaris
Gregory Anthony Perdicaris ( el, Γρηγόρης Αντώνης Περδικάρης; 1810 – April 18, 1883) was a Greek American statesman, lawyer, professor, author, and entrepreneur. Perdicaris raised awareness about Greece in the United S ...
was a wealthy millionaire who created the framework for gas and electric companies. George Colvocoresses
George Musalas "Colvos" Colvocoresses (October 22, 1816 – June 3, 1872) was a Greek-American United States Navy, Navy officer who commanded the during the American Civil War. From 1838 up until 1842, he took part in the United States Exploring ...
was a Captain in the United States Navy. Colvos Passage
The Colvos Passage is a tidal strait within Puget Sound in the American state of Washington running west of Vashon Island between the island and the Kitsap Peninsula. It lies just north of the Dalco Passage. Colvos Passage has a permanent pre ...
is named after him. George Sirian
George Sirian (1818 – December 21, 1891) was a Greek war orphan brought into the United States aboard the ("Old Ironsides"). He served in the United States Navy with distinction for over fifty years, first as an ordinary seaman, and later as a ...
was another seaman in the United States Navy. The George Sirian Meritorious Service Award is named after him. Harvard created an entire department for Evangelinos Apostolides Sophocles
Evangelinos Apostolides Sophocles ( el, Ευαγγελινός Αποστολίδης Σοφοκλής; March8, 1807December17, 1883) was a professor of classics and Modern Greek at Harvard University, and lexicographer. He was born in Tsagkarad ...
. Greek orphan Lucas Miltiades Miller became a U.S. Congressman.
In 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 ...
, Greek Americans fought for both sides, 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 ...
and 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 ...
, with prominent Greeks such as George Colvocoresses
George Musalas "Colvos" Colvocoresses (October 22, 1816 – June 3, 1872) was a Greek-American United States Navy, Navy officer who commanded the during the American Civil War. From 1838 up until 1842, he took part in the United States Exploring ...
, John Celivergos Zachos
John Celivergos Zachos ( el, Ιωάννης Καλίβεργος Ζάχος; December 20, 1820 – March 20, 1898) was a Greek-American physician, literary scholar, elocutionist, author, lecturer, inventor, and educational pioneer. He was an ea ...
and Photius Fisk
Photios I ( el, Φώτιος, ''Phōtios''; c. 810/820 – 6 February 893), also spelled PhotiusFr. Justin Taylor, essay "Canon Law in the Age of the Fathers" (published in Jordan Hite, T.O.R., & Daniel J. Ward, O.S.B., "Readings, Cases, Materia ...
taking part in the war on the side of 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 ...
. A Greek Company within the Confederate Louisiana Militia was formed for Greeks who fought for the Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...
.
After the Civil War, the Greek community continued to flourish in , Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
. By 1866, the community was numerous and prosperous enough to have a Greek consulate
A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of diplomatic mission, it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy (or, only between two Commonwealth coun ...
and the first official Greek Orthodox Church
The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also call ...
in the United States. During that period, most Greek immigrants to the New World
The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...
came from Asia Minor
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...
and those Aegean Islands still under Ottoman rule. By 1890, there were almost 15,000 Greeks living in the U.S.
Immigration picked up again in the 1890s and early 20th century, due largely to economic opportunity in the U.S., displacement caused by the hardships of Ottoman rule, the Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars refers to a series of two conflicts that took place in the Balkan States in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan States of Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria declared war upon the Ottoman Empire and defe ...
, and World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Most of these immigrants had come from southern Greece, especially from the Peloponnesian provinces of Laconia and Arcadia. 450,000 Greeks arrived to the States between 1890 and 1917, most working in the cities of the northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States, also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast, is a geographic region of the United States. It is located on the Atlantic coast of North America, with Canada to its north, the Southe ...
; others labored on railroad construction and in mines of the western United States
The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...
; another 70,000 arrived between 1918 and 1924. Each wave of immigration contributed to the growth of Hellenism in the U.S.
Greek immigration at this time was over 90% male, contrasted with most other European immigration to the U.S., such as Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
and Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
immigration, which averaged 50% to 60% male. Many Greek immigrants expected to work and return to their homeland
A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethni ...
after earning capital and dowries for their families. However, the loss of their homeland due to the Greek genocide
The Greek genocide (, ''Genoktonia ton Ellinon''), which included the Pontic genocide, was the systematic killing of the Christians, Christian Ottoman Greeks, Ottoman Greek population of Anatolia which was carried out mainly during World War I ...
and the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey
The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey ( el, Ἡ Ἀνταλλαγή, I Antallagí, ota, مبادله, Mübâdele, tr, Mübadele) stemmed from the "Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations" signed at ...
, which displaced 1,500,000 Greeks from Anatolia
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...
, Eastern Thrace
Eastern may refer to:
Transportation
*China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai
* Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways
* Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991
*Eastern Air ...
, and Pontus
Pontus or Pontos may refer to:
* Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea)
* Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology
* Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...
caused the initial economic immigrants to reside permanently in America. The Greeks were de jure
In law and government, ''de jure'' ( ; , "by law") describes practices that are legally recognized, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. In contrast, ("in fact") describes situations that exist in reality, even if not legally ...
denaturalized
Denaturalization is the loss of citizenship against the will of the person concerned. Denaturalization is often applied to ethnic minorities and political dissidents. Denaturalization can be a penalty for actions considered criminal by the state ...
from their homelands and lost the right to return, and their families were made refugees. Additionally, the first widely implemented U.S. immigration limits against non Western European immigrants were made in 1924, creating an impetus for immigrants to apply for citizenship, bring their families and permanently settle in the U.S. Fewer than 30,000 Greek immigrants arrived in the U.S. between 1925 and 1945, most of whom were "picture brides
''Picture Brides'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code adventure film, directed by Phil Rosen. The film stars Dorothy Mackaill, Regis Toomey and Alan Hale.
Plot
Four mail order brides from New Orleans and a young girl conned into a non-existing job in ...
" for single Greek men and family members coming over to join relatives.
20th century
In 1909, there was a pogrom against the Greek population in South Omaha
Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...
.
The events of the early 1920s also provided the stimulus for the first permanent national Greek American religious and civic organizations. In 1922, as a response to the anti-Greek campaign and actions of Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to the KKK or the Klan, is an American white supremacist, right-wing terrorist, and hate group whose primary targets are African Americans, Jews, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and ...
, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA, usually referred to as the Order of AHEPA) is a fraternal organization founded on July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia. AHEPA was founded to fight for civil rights and against discrim ...
was founded, which sought to organize and Americanize
Americanization or Americanisation (see spelling differences) is the influence of American culture and business on other countries outside the United States of America, including their media, cuisine, business practices, popular culture, tech ...
the Greek immigrant in America.
Greeks again began to arrive in large numbers after 1945, fleeing the economic devastation caused by World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and the Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος όλεμος ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom ...
. From 1945 until 1982, approximately 211,000 Greeks immigrated to the United States. These later immigrants were less influenced by the powerful assimilation pressures of the 1920s and 1930s and revitalized Greek American identity, especially in areas such as Greek-language media.
Greek immigrants founded more than 600 diner
A diner is a small, inexpensive restaurant found across the United States, as well as in Canada and parts of Western Europe. Diners offer a wide range of foods, mostly American cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a com ...
s in the New York metropolitan area in the 1950s through the 1970s. Immigration to the United States from Greece peaked between the 1950s and 1970. After the 1981 admission of Greece to the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
, annual U.S. immigration numbers fell to less than 2,000. In recent years, Greek immigration to the United States has been minimal; in fact, net migration has been towards Greece. Over 72,000 U.S. citizens currently live in Greece (1999); most of them are Greek Americans.
The predominant religion among Greeks and Greek Americans is Greek Orthodox Christianity
The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also call ...
. There are also a number of Americans who descend from Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
's smaller Sephardic
Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), ...
and Romaniote Jew
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""Th ...
ish communities.
21st century
In the aftermath of the Greek financial crisis
Greece faced a sovereign debt crisis in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007–2008. Widely known in the country as The Crisis (Greek: Η Κρίση), it reached the populace as a series of sudden reforms and austerity measures that le ...
, there has been a resurgence of Greek immigration to New York City since 2010, accelerating in 2015, and centered upon the traditional Greek enclave of Astoria, Queens
Astoria is a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City borough of Queens. Astoria is bounded by the East River and is adjacent to three other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City to the southwest, Sunnyside to the southeast ...
. According to ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', this new wave of Greek migration to New York is not being driven as much by opportunities in New York as it is by a lack of economic options in Greece itself.[
]
Demographics
Population by state
Population by state according to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, citizenship, educati ...
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Largest communities
Greek-American communities in the US according to the 5 Year Estimates of the (2020 American Community Survey
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, citizenship, educati ...
):
United States by Ancestry: 1,249,194
United States by Country of Birth: 124,428
Top CSA's by Ancestry:
# New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA
The New York metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the Tri-State area, is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban area, urban landmass, at , and one of the list of most populous metropolitan areas, most populous urban agg ...
: 187,255
# Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA
Greater Boston is the metropolitan region of New England encompassing the municipality of Boston (the capital of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the most populous city in New England) and its surrounding areas. The region forms the northern ar ...
: 95,594
# Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA
The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hint ...
: 89,468
# Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA CSA
Greater Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan region in the United States with a population of 18.5 million in 2021, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino Coun ...
: 52,416
# Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA: 48,597
# San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA
The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Gover ...
: 40,277
# Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA
The Delaware Valley is a metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan region on the East Coast of the United States that comprises and surrounds Philadelphia, the List of United States cities by population, sixth most populous city in the nation ...
: 36,432
# Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI CSA: 31,547
# Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL CSA: 23,725
Top CSA's by Country of Birth:
# New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA
The New York metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the Tri-State area, is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban area, urban landmass, at , and one of the list of most populous metropolitan areas, most populous urban agg ...
: 37,225
# Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA
The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hint ...
: 12,070
# Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA
Greater Boston is the metropolitan region of New England encompassing the municipality of Boston (the capital of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the most populous city in New England) and its surrounding areas. The region forms the northern ar ...
: 10,843
# Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA CSA
Greater Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan region in the United States with a population of 18.5 million in 2021, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino Coun ...
: 5,484
# Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA: 5,016
# Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA
The Delaware Valley is a metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan region on the East Coast of the United States that comprises and surrounds Philadelphia, the List of United States cities by population, sixth most populous city in the nation ...
: 5,014
# San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA
The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Gover ...
: 3,424
# Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL CSA: 2,711
# Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI CSA: 2,337
Top MSA's by Ancestry:
# New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
: 159,180
# Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hi ...
: 87,864
# Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH: 65,041
# Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Greater Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan region in the United States with a population of 18.5 million in 2021, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino Coun ...
: 39,163
# Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
The Delaware Valley is a metropolitan region on the East Coast of the United States that comprises and surrounds Philadelphia, the sixth most populous city in the nation and 68th largest city in the world as of 2020. The toponym Delaware Val ...
: 30,728
# Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA: 28,450
# Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI: 26,290
# Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
The Tampa Bay area is a major populated area surrounding Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida in the United States. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. It is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the United St ...
: 24,522
# San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA: 23,266
# Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL CSA: 20,545
Top MSA's by Country of Birth:
# New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
: 32,801
# Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hi ...
: 12,031
# Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH: 7,807
# Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Greater Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan region in the United States with a population of 18.5 million in 2021, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino Coun ...
: 4,512
# Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
The Delaware Valley is a metropolitan region on the East Coast of the United States that comprises and surrounds Philadelphia, the sixth most populous city in the nation and 68th largest city in the world as of 2020. The toponym Delaware Val ...
: 4,347
# Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
The Tampa Bay area is a major populated area surrounding Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida in the United States. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. It is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the United St ...
: 3,969
# Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA: 3,101
# Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL: 2,602
# Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk-Danbury, CT: 2,302
# San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA: 2,091
# Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI: 2,076
Top States by Ancestry:
# 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
* '' ...
: 143,481
# California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
: 129,127
# Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
: 91,086
# Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
: 89,658
# : 76,317
# New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
: 59,665
# 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, ...
: 59,477
# 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 ...
: 53,057
# Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
: 48,697
# Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
: 44,042
Top States by Country of Birth:
# 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
* '' ...
: 29,017
# Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
: 12,031
# California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
: 10,742
# : 9,705
# Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
: 9,565
# New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
: 8,872
# 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, ...
: 5,865
# Connecticut: 4,074
# Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
: 3,965
# Maryland: 3,312
Communities by percentage of people of Greek ancestry
The US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Greek ancestry are:
# Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 23,484 at the 2010 census. Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US. Downtown Tarpon Springs has long been a focal po ...
25.00%
# Campbell, Ohio 9.30%
# Lincolnwood, Illinois 7.60%
# Plandome Manor, New York 7.50%
# Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 7.20%
# Allenwood, New Jersey 6.60%
# South Barrington, Illinois 6.00%
# Palos Hills, Illinois 5.40%
# Nahant, Massachusetts 5.30%
# Alpine, New Jersey; Holiday, Florida; and Munsey Park, New York 5.20%
# East Marion, New York 5.00%
# Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan and Grosse Pointe Township, Michigan; Palos Park, Illinois; and Upper Brookville, New York 4.90%
# Harbor Isle, New York 4.70%
# Lake Dalecarlia, Indiana 4.50%
# Barnum Island, New York 4.40%
# Peabody, Massachusetts 4.30%
# Livingston Manor, New York and University Gardens, New York 4.20%
# Oak Brook, Illinois 4.00%
# Dracut, Massachusetts 3.90%
# Harwood Heights, Illinois and Oyster Bay Cove, New York 3.80%
# Fort Lee, New Jersey; Hiller, Pennsylvania; Ipswich, Massachusetts; Long Grove, Illinois; Oakhurst, New Jersey; and Yorkville, Ohio 3.70%
# Broomall, Pennsylvania; Garden City South, New York; Norwood Park, Chicago, Norwood Park, Chicago, Illinois (neighborhood); and Plandome, New York 3.60%
# Flower Hill, New York; Manhasset, New York; Monte Sereno, California; Norridge, Illinois; Palisades Park, New Jersey; Palos Township, Cook County, Illinois, Palos Township, IL; and Windham, New York 3.50%
# Morton Grove, Illinois; Terryville, New York; and Wellington, Utah 3.40%
# Banks Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, Banks Township, PA (Carbon County, Pennsylvania, Carbon County, PA); Harmony Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Harmony, Pennsylvania (Beaver County, PA); Plandome Heights, New York; and Watertown, Massachusetts 3.30%
# Niles, Illinois and Niles Township, Cook County, Illinois, Niles Township, Illinois 3.20%
# Groveland, Massachusetts 3.10%
# Albertson, New York; Caroline, New York; Graeagle, California; Lynnfield, Massachusetts; Marple Township, Pennsylvania; and Stanhope, New Jersey 3.00%
# Foster Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Foster Township, Pennsylvania; Manhasset Hills, New York; West Falmouth, Massachusetts; Winfield, Indiana; and Worth Township, Boone County, Indiana, Worth Township, Indiana (Boone County, IN) 2.90%
Communities by percentage of those born in Greece
The U.S. communities with the largest percentage of residents born in Greece are:
# Horse Heaven Hills, Horse Heaven, Washington 3.8%
# Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 23,484 at the 2010 census. Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US. Downtown Tarpon Springs has long been a focal po ...
3.2%
# Palos Hills, Illinois 3.1%
# Harbor Isle, New York 3.1%
# Campbell, Ohio 3.1%
# Lincolnwood, Illinois 2.7%
# Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 2.5%
# Bedford Park, Illinois 2.3%
# Twin Lakes, Florida 2.3%
# Holiday, Florida 2.1%
# Great Neck Gardens, New York 2.1%
# Norridge, Illinois 2.0%
# Palos Park, Illinois 1.9%
# Barnum Island, New York 1.9%
# Munsey Park, New York 1.8%
# Foxfield, Colorado 1.7%
# Cedar Glen West, New Jersey 1.7%
# Raynham Center, Massachusetts 1.6%
# Broomall, Pennsylvania 1.6%
# Flower Hill, New York 1.6%
# Alpine, New Jersey 1.6%
# Millbourne, Pennsylvania 1.6%
# Niles, Illinois 1.6%
# Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan 1.6%
# East Marion, New York 1.6%
# West Falmouth, Massachusetts 1.6%
# Golden Triangle, New Jersey 1.5%
# Palisades Park, New Jersey 1.5%
# Garden City South, New York 1.5%
# Harwood Heights, Illinois 1.5%
# Watertown, Massachusetts 1.5%
# Morton Grove, Illinois 1.5%
# East Ithaca, New York 1.4%
# Fort Lee, New Jersey 1.4%
# Saddle Rock, New York 1.4%
# Oakhurst, New Jersey 1.4%
# Plandome Manor, New York 1.3%
# White Lake, North Carolina 1.3%
# Old Brookville, New York 1.2%
# Plandome Heights, New York 1.2%
# South Barrington, Illinois 1.2%
# North Lakeville, Massachusetts 1.2%
# Terryville, New York 1.2%
# Jefferson, West Virginia 1.2%
# Ridgefield, New Jersey 1.2%
# East Norwich, New York 1.2%
# Skokie, Illinois 1.1%
# Arlington Heights, Pennsylvania 1.1%
# Pomona, New York 1.1%
# Spring House, Pennsylvania 1.1%
# Hickory Hills, Illinois 1.1%
# Cliffside Park, New Jersey 1.1%
# Friendship Village, Maryland 1.1%
# Kingsville, Maryland 1.1%
# Arlington, Massachusetts 1.1%
# Mount Prospect, Illinois 1.1%
# Midland Park, New Jersey 1.0%
# Lake Dalecarlia, Indiana 1.0%
# Pinedale, Wyoming 1.0%
# Glenview, Cook County, Illinois, Glenview, Illinois 1.0%
# Dunn Loring, Virginia 1.0%
# West Kennebunk, Maine 1.0%
# Shokan, New York 1.0%
# Beacon Square, Florida 1.0%
# Peabody, Massachusetts 1.0%
# Dedham, Massachusetts 1.0%
# North Key Largo, Florida 1.0%
# Hillside, New York 1.0%
# Orland Park, Illinois 1.0%
# Eddystone, Pennsylvania 1.0%
# South Hempstead, New York 1.0%
# Redington Beach, Florida 1.0%
# Hillsmere Shores, Maryland 1.0%
Greek-born population
Greek-born population in the US since 2010 (ACS 1 Tear Estimates):
Print media
The ''Atlantis (newspaper), Atlantis'' (1894–1973) was the first successful Greek language, Greek-language daily newspaper published in the United States.[Judith Felste]
"Atlantis, National Daily Newspaper 1894-1973"
''Atlantis, National Daily Newspaper 1894-1973'', The Research Library of the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies, December 1982 The newspaper was founded in 1894 by Solon J. and Demetrius J. Vlasto, descendants of the Greek noble family, Vlastos, Vlasto.[Magny, Claude Drigon. ''Livre D'or De La Noblesse Européenne'', Ed. 2. Paris: Aubry, 1856, pg. 441.] The paper was headed by a member of the Vlasto family until it closed in 1973. Published in New York City, it had a national circulation and influence. ''Atlantis'' supported the royalist faction in Greek politics until the mid-1960s. ''Atlantis'' editorial themes included naturalization, war relief, Greek-American business interests, and Greek religious unity.
, ''Ethnikos Kyrix'' ( el, Εθνικός Κήρυξ, 1915–) is the only Greek-language daily publication based in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, its articles focus on the Greek diaspora in the United States as well as current events in Greece and Cyprus. In contrast to its competitor ''Atlantis'', ''Ethnikos Kyrix'' historically supported liberal causes in Greece and America, including the progressive forces of Eleftherios Venizelos in Greece and the New Deal stateside.[Northrup, Mary]
"The Greek press in America"
Cobblestone, Dec 1996, Vol. 17 Issue 9, p. 17. A companion weekly edition ''The National Herald'' (1997–) is in circulation and features similar content presented in English. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America publishes the monthly ''Orthodox Observer'' (1934–) in both Greek and English for news and information regarding the Greek Orthodox Church as a whole, as well as its American parishes.
In popular culture
* Greek American novelist Jeffrey Eugenides won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for his novel ''Middlesex (novel), Middlesex'', about a Greek American family in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit.
* In 1967, Academy Award-winning film-director Elia Kazan published a novel, The Arrangement: A Novel, about a conflicted Greek American living a double life as an advertising executive and muckraking journalist. Kazan, who died in September 2003, was a Greek American.
* The popular 1970s show ''Kojak'', featured Telly Savalas as Greek American police detective Theo Kojak, and his brother George Savalas, George as detective Stavros. Kojak was originally supposed to be Poles, Polish (hence the name), but this was changed to match Savalas' profile.
* The 2002 comedy film ''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' portrayed the love story of a Greek American woman (portrayed by Greek Canadians, Greek Canadian Nia Vardalos) and a non-Greek American man (specifically a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant). It also examines the protagonist's troubled love/hate relationship with her cultural heritage and value system. The movie spawned an unsuccessful TV series, ''My Big Fat Greek Life''. The sequel, ''My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2'', was released in March 2016.
* ''The Famous Teddy Z'' was an acclaimed but short-lived TV series about a fictional talent agent named Teddy Zakalakis, portrayed by Jon Cryer.
* The TV series ''Full House'' was about a family that included Greek American Jesse Katsopolis, Uncle Jesse Katsopolis, portrayed by Greek American actor John Stamos. Jesse's surname was changed from Cochran to Katsopolis after the first season because Stamos wanted to portray his Greek American heritage. Jesse's Greek dad was also a recurring character. Stamos reprises the role of Jesse in the 2016 sequel sitcom, ''Fuller House (TV series), Fuller House''.
* The Olympia Cafe was a recurring sketch in the early years of ''Saturday Night Live''. More recently, Tina Fey has often joked about her Greek heritage on the show.
* Tom's Restaurant (Manhattan), Tom's Restaurant, a Greek American owned business, has become one of the symbols of urban New York life.
* Elektra (comics), Elektra Natchios is a Marvel Comics superhero, portrayed by Jennifer Garner in the 2003 movie ''Daredevil (film), Daredevil'' and the 2005 movie ''Elektra (2005 film), Elektra''. Élodie Yung portrays the character in the second season of the Netflix series ''Marvel's Daredevil'', which debuted in 2016.
* Several entertainers and other performing artists including Johnny Otis, Tina Fey, Kelly Clarkson, Alexander Frey, John Aniston, Jennifer Aniston, Melina Kanakaredes, Zach Galifianakis, Tommy Lee, Demetri Martin, Paul Cavonis, Criss Angel, Elias Koteas, Amy Sedaris, Andy Milonakis, Art Alexakis and Billy Zane are of Greek descent.
* Writer, performer and radio-commentator David Sedaris satirizes growing up in a Greek American household in suburban North Carolina in several of his essays.
* Athletes such as Pete Sampras, Harry Agganis, Chris Chelios, Dean Karnazes, Alex Karras, Alexi Lalas, Dave Batista, Greg Louganis, Nick Markakis, Kurt Rambis, Tom Pappas and Jim Londos are of Greek descent.
*New Greek TV, New Greek Television Inc., NGTV on Time Warner Cable a rebranding of the 25 year old Greek Television Channel of New York
Greek nationality
Any person who is Greeks, ethnically Greek born Greek diaspora, outside of Greece may become a Greek citizen through naturalization by proving that a parent or grandparent was born as a national of Greece. The Greek ancestor's birth certificate and marriage certificate are required, along with the applicant's birth certificate and the birth certificates of all generations in between until the relation between the applicant and the person with Greek citizenship is proven.
Organizations
There are hundreds of regional, religious and professional Greek American organizations. Some of the largest and most notable include:
* The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA, usually referred to as the Order of AHEPA) is a fraternal organization founded on July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia. AHEPA was founded to fight for civil rights and against discrim ...
(AHEPA) is the largest community organization of Greek Americans. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1922 to counter the anti-Greek attacks by the Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to the KKK or the Klan, is an American white supremacist, right-wing terrorist, and hate group whose primary targets are African Americans, Jews, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and ...
during that time period. Its current membership exceeds 28,000. 385 active chapters are located in the United States with additional chapters in Canada, and Europe. AHEPA maintains a full-time staff at the AHEPA Global Headquarters located in Washington, DC www.ahepa.org
* The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the religious organization most closely associated with the Greek American community. It was established in 1921, and is under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The church operates the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, the largest Orthodox Christian youth group in the United States.
* The American Hellenic Institute, an advocacy group for Greek Americans, and its lobbying arm, the American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee.
* The Next Generation Initiative, a foundation that works with prominent Greek American leaders and executives to offer educational opportunities such as internships and master classes through a network of more than 5,500 Greek American students and 2,500 professors on 200+ college campuses.
* The Council of Hellenes Abroad is a Greek government sponsored umbrella organization for Greek immigrant organizations worldwide.
* Th
Hellenic Society Paideia
has been promoting Hellenism and Orthodoxy since 1977 by placing Greek and Byzantium classes in high schools and universities, offering study abroad programs to Greece year round, and with various building projects throughout the country. Anywhere from 200 to 500 students travel to Greece with Paideia per year. Information specifically for the study abroad programs can be found a
www.hellenicstudiespaideia.org
Currently "Paideia" is constructing a Classical Greek Amphitheater at the University of Connecticut and a Center for Hellenic Studies at the University of Rhode Island.
* The National Hellenic Student Association (NHSA) is the independent network of the Hellenic Student Associations (HSAs) across the United States. By linking all the Greek, Greek-American and Cypriot students of the American educational institutions, the organization can promote ideas and projects and enrich the Hellenic spirit on campuses nationwide.
* Many ''topika somatéa'' (local councils) or clubs representing the local regional homeland of Greeks in America. Among the scores of such clubs, larger "umbrella" organizations include the Pan Macedonian Association (one example is the Drosopigi Society, in Rochester, New York, hailing from the village of Drosopigi in Northern Greece outside of the city of Florina) the Panepirotic Federation, the Pan Cretan Association, the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood, the Pan Pontian Federation of U.S.A-Canada, the Chios Societies of America & Canada, the Cyprus Federation of America, the Pan-Laconian Federation of the USA & Canada, the Pan-Messinian Federation of the USA & Canada, the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America and several associations of refugees from areas in the former Ottoman territories.
* The National Hellenic Museum in Greektown, Chicago
Notable people
See also
* Greeks in Omaha, Nebraska
* Greeks
* Greek diaspora
* Diaspora politics in the United States
* Grecian Echoes
* Greek Cypriots
* Greek Festival
* Greektown
* Hyphenated American
* Greek Canadians
* Greek British
* Greek Australians
*Greek New Zealanders
*Greek-American cuisine
*Anti-Hellenism
*Hellenophilia
*List of Greek Americans
*Greece–United States relations
References
Further reading
* Callinicos, Constance. ''American Aphrodite: Becoming Female in Greek America'' (Pella, 1990).
* Georgakas, Dan. ''My Detroit: Growing Up Greek and American in Motor City'' (Pella, 2006)."
* Georgiou, Leonidas V.,
Conversations with F.D.R. at his AHEPA Initiation: Frigates, Battleships, Espionage and a Sentimental Bond with Greece,"
(Knollwood Press, 2019). Available through Abebooks.com.
* Jurgens, Jane. "Greek Americans." ''Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America,'' edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 2, Gale, 2014), pp. 237–253
Online
* Jusdanis, Gregory. "Greek Americans and the diaspora." ''Diaspora: a journal of transnational studies'' 1#2 (1991): 209–223
Excerpt
* Kunkelman, Gary. ''The Religion of Ethnicity: Belief and Belonging in a Greek-American Community'' (Garland, 1990).
* Moskos, Peter C. ''Greek Americans: struggle and success'' (Routledge, 2017).
* Orfanos, Spyros D. ''Reading Greek America: Studies in the Experience of Greeks in the United States'' (Pella, 2002).
* Rouvelas, Marilyn. ''A Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs in America'' (Attica, 1993).
* Scourby, Alice. "Three generations of Greek Americans: A study in ethnicity." ''International Migration Review'' 14.1 (1980): 43–52
Online
* Schultz, Sandra L. "Adjusting Marriage Tradition: Greeks to Greek-Americans." ''Journal of Comparative Family Studies'' 12.2 (1981): 205–218.
External links
;Embassy and Consulates
Embassy
;Charitable organizations
*The Hellenic Initiative
AHEPA home page
- American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA, usually referred to as the Order of AHEPA) is a fraternal organization founded on July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia. AHEPA was founded to fight for civil rights and against discrim ...
The Hellenic Society "Paideia"
Greek America Foundation
National Hellenic Society
Onassis Foundation (USA)
Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund
; Libraries and museums
National Hellenic Museum
Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection at California State University, Sacramento
*The Museum of Greek Culture a
The New England Carousel Museum
constructed b
The Hellenic Society Paideia
housing a Macedonia exhibit.
;Trade organizations
Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce
Greek-American Chamber of Commerce
;Affiliate trade organizations
Hellenic Canadian Board of Trade
Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association
Hellenic-Argentine Chamber of Industry and Commerce (C.I.C.H.A.)
;Websites
Famous Greek-Americans
- A comprehensive list of famous Greeks and Greek Americans.
{{Greek diaspora
Greek American,
European-American society
American people of Greek descent, *