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The history of Poles in
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...
dates back to the late 19th century. The Polish community is largely centered in the neighborhoods of Canton, Fell's Point, Locust Point, and Highlandtown. Poles are the largest Slavic ethnic group in the city and one of the largest European ethnic groups.


Demographics

In 1880, Poles made up a small portion of the foreign-born population of Baltimore at 1% of all foreign born residents. 16.9% (56,354) of Baltimore was foreign born, 563 of them Polish. In 1920, 11,083 foreign-born White people in Baltimore spoke the
Polish language Polish (Polish: ''język polski'', , ''polszczyzna'' or simply ''polski'', ) is a West Slavic languages, West Slavic language of the Lechitic languages, Lechitic group written in the Latin script. It is spoken primarily in Poland and serves as t ...
, making Polish the most widely spoken Slavic or Eastern European language in the city. In 1940, approximately 34,000 Polish-Americans lived in the state of Maryland, most of them in Baltimore. In the same year, 8,862 immigrants from
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
lived in Baltimore. These immigrants comprised 14.2% of the city's foreign-born white population. In total, 21,175 people of Polish birth or descent lived in the city, comprising 15.2% of the foreign-stock white population. The Polish community in the
Baltimore metropolitan area The Baltimore–Columbia–Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as Central Maryland, is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in Maryland as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As of the 2010 Census, t ...
numbered 122,814 as of 2000, making up 4.8 percent of the area's population. In the same year Baltimore city's Polish population was 18,400, 2.8% of the city's population. In 2013, an estimated 15,828 Polish-Americans resided in Baltimore city, 2.5% of the population. As of September 2014, immigrants from
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
were the eighteenth largest foreign-born population in Baltimore and the Polish language was the eleventh most commonly spoken language, after English.


History


19th century

The first
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin scree ...
immigrants to Baltimore settled in the Fell's Point neighborhood in 1868. Polish mass immigration to Baltimore and other U.S. cities first started around 1870, many of whom were fleeing the Franco-Prussian War. Many Polish immigrants came from agricultural regions of Poland and were often considered unskilled workers. Many worked as
stevedore A stevedore (), also called a longshoreman, a docker or a dockworker, is a waterfront manual laborer who is involved in loading and unloading ships, trucks, trains or airplanes. After the shipping container revolution of the 1960s, the number ...
s for Baltimore's
International Longshoremen's Association The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) is a North American labor union representing longshore workers along the East Coast of the United States and Canada, the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and inland waterways. The ILA h ...
. Other Polish immigrants worked in the canneries, some travelling to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi to work in the seafood canneries during the winter months. After the
abolition of slavery Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The British ...
, farmers had lost their slaves and wanted a cheap source of labor. Following changes in U.S. immigration laws many Central and
Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russia, wh ...
an migrants, particularly Polish and
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 ...
, came to Maryland to fill this need. These changes also affected other nations. The majority of Polish immigrants were
Roman Catholics 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 ...
. The first Polish-Catholic parish to be formed was the St. Stanislaus Kostka church, which was organized in 1880. The Holy Rosary Church parish was founded in 1887. However, many were
Polish Jews The history of the Jews in Poland dates back at least 1,000 years. For centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Ashkenazi Jewish community in the world. Poland was a principal center of Jewish culture, because of the lo ...
. Polish Jews helped found the B'nai Israel Synagogue in 1873. The first
Polish language Polish (Polish: ''język polski'', , ''polszczyzna'' or simply ''polski'', ) is a West Slavic languages, West Slavic language of the Lechitic languages, Lechitic group written in the Latin script. It is spoken primarily in Poland and serves as t ...
newspaper in Baltimore, titled ''Polonia'', began publication in 1891. By 1893, the Polish population was starting to become the backbone of Baltimore's laboring class. 1,500 were arriving in Baltimore annually and by 1893 there were 23,000 Polish-Americans living in the city.


20th century

The St. Casimir Church parish was established in 1902. St. Casimir's current building was constructed in 1927. Less than a year later, Holy Rosary Church built its current residence. During the early years of the 20th century the Polish population became more established in Baltimore. The Polish community established ethnic clubs, Polish-language newspapers, and create their own savings and loans societies. By 1910, Eastern Avenue in Baltimore was known as the Polish Wall Street of Baltimore. In the years prior to World War I, the Polish population in Baltimore ranked seventh largest in the United States. Baltimore's Poles first gained political representation in 1923, when Edward I. Novak was elected to the
Baltimore City Council The Baltimore City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Baltimore and its more than 600,000 citizens. It has 14 members elected by district and a president elected at-large; all serve four-year terms. The Council holds regu ...
for the city's 3rd ward. In 1925, the Polish community of Curtis Bay established the Polish Home Hall in order to serve as a community center for the Polish community. In the census of 1960, Polish-Americans comprised 15.2% of Baltimore's population. The Polish-born was a percentage of the total foreign-born population was 62.6% in Fell's Point, 38.5% in Locust Point, and 74.7% in Southeast Baltimore. Ze Mean Bean Café in Fell's Point opened in 1995. It is a restaurant which offers
Polish cuisine Polish cuisine ( pl, kuchnia polska) is a style of cooking and food preparation originating in or widely popular in Poland. Due to Poland's history, Polish cuisine has evolved over the centuries to be very eclectic, and it shares many similariti ...
, as well as other Slavic and Eastern European fare. In 2000, Baltimore's Polish community funded the creation of the National Katyń Memorial at Inner Harbor East. The monument is meant to memorialize the victims of the
Katyn massacre The Katyn massacre, "Katyń crime"; russian: link=yes, Катынская резня ''Katynskaya reznya'', "Katyn massacre", or russian: link=no, Катынский расстрел, ''Katynsky rasstrel'', "Katyn execution" was a series of m ...
.


21st century

The Polish community has declined in numbers over the years, but there is still a strong Polish presence. The Polish National Alliance is located in Baltimore and maintains an archive of several thousand documents in the Polish language. There are a number of Polish delis and restaurants still in operation, such a
Krakus DeliPolock Johnny'sOstrowski of Bank Street
an
Ze Mean Bean Café
In 2011, Baltimore's long-running Polish festival left Baltimore after 37 years of being held there; the festival was relocated to Lutherville-Timonium. According to ''The Baltimore Sun'', the move was due to the shrinking size of the Polish community in Baltimore. The organizers of the annual Polish festival in Baltimore, The Polish Community Association of Maryland (PCAM), provide an alternate reason for moving the festival out of the city: the city sharply increased fees for space rental and services, and mandated expensive insurance coverages be provided by the organizers. The National Slavic Museum opened in 2012. The museum focuses on the Slavic history of Baltimore, including Baltimore's Polish history. The Lemko House, an apartment complex on South Ann Street, provides housing for Eastern European immigrants. Founded in 1983 by Ivan Dornic, an Eastern Rite priest, the complex is named after Dornic's ethnic group, the
Lemkos Lemkos ( rue, Лeмкы, translit= Lemkŷ; pl, Łemkowie; uk, Лемки, translit=Lemky) are an ethnic group inhabiting the Lemko Region ( rue, Лемковина, translit=Lemkovyna; uk, Лемківщина, translit=Lemkivshchyna) of Car ...
. The Lemkos are a Rusyn ethnic group inhabiting Lemkivshchyna, a part of Transcarpathia that spans parts of Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine. Lemko House has opened its doors to low-income residents of any ethnicity, but is still home to many Slavic and Eastern European immigrants.


Little Poland

The Polish community is Southeast Baltimore is sometimes referred to affectionately as Little Poland.


Notable Polish-Americans from Baltimore

* Rafael Alvarez, an author based in Baltimore and Los Angeles. * Cecylia Barczyk, a Polish-born cellist. * Tzvi Berkowitz, an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist, and lecturer at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel. *
Mike Bielecki Michael Joseph Bielecki (born July 31, 1959) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues for five different teams. Major league career Pittsburgh Pirates After graduating from Dundalk High School, Bielecki attend ...
, a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues for five different teams. *
Dick Bielski Richard Adam Bielski (born September 7, 1932) is a former American football player and coach. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Baltimore Colts. Bielski played college ...
, a former professional American football player and coach *
Kendel Ehrlich Kendel Sibiski Ehrlich (born 1961) is a former First Lady of Maryland, having served from 2003 to 2007 during the administration of Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich. She is the first woman of Polish descent to have been Maryland's First Lady. Fr ...
, former First Lady of Maryland, having served from 2003 to 2007 during the administration of Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich. * Henry Einspruch, a Polish-born Messianic missionary affiliated with the Hebrew-Christian movement who translated the Christian New Testament into Yiddish. *
Aharon Feldman Rabbi Aharon Feldman (born 1932) is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel (Ner Israel Rabbinical College) in Baltimore, Maryland. He has held this position since 2001. He is also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei ...
, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel (Ner Israel Rabbinical College) in Baltimore. * Philip H. Goodman, 42nd Mayor of the City of Baltimore and a member of the Maryland Senate. * Arthur Hertzberg, a Conservative rabbi and prominent Jewish-American scholar and activist. * Hank Kazmierski, a retired American soccer forward. * Greg Kihn, a rock musician, radio personality, and novelist. * Carolyn J. Krysiak, a politician who represented the 46th legislative district in the Maryland House of Delegates. * Barbara Mikulski, the senior United States senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party, serving since 1987. *
Ric Ocasek Richard Theodore Otcasek (March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019), known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was the primary co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the rock ...
, a musician and music producer best known as lead vocalist for the rock band The Cars. * Joseph C. Palczynski, a spree killer in the suburbs of Baltimore who terrorized residents in March 2000. * William Rosenau, a leader of Reform Judaism in the beginning of the twentieth century in the United States. *
Carroll Rosenbloom Dale Carroll Rosenbloom (March 5, 1907 – April 2, 1979) was an American businessman. He was the owner of two National Football League franchises; he was the first owner of the Baltimore Colts, and later switched teams, taking ownership of the ...
, a businessman who was owner of the Baltimore Colts and the Los Angeles Rams. * Edward Rowny, a U.S. Army general and an ambassador. * Mitchell T. Rozanski, a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church serving as the Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts. * Maggie Sajak, a country singer. *
Leon Uris Leon Marcus Uris (August 3, 1924 – June 21, 2003) was an American author of historical fiction who wrote many bestselling books including '' Exodus'' (published in 1958) and '' Trinity'' (published in 1976). Life and career Uris was born in B ...
, a novelist known for his historical fiction. *
Albert Warner Abraham "Albert" Warner (born Aaron Wonsal, July 23, 1884Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), Warner Family Tree. – November 26, 1967) was an American film executive who was one of the founders of Warner Bros. He established the production s ...
, a Polish-born Jewish-American film executive who was one of the founders of Warner Bros. Studios. *
Harry Warner Harry Morris Warner (born Hirsz Mojżesz Wonsal; December 12, 1881 – July 25, 1958) was an American studio executive, one of the founders of Warner Bros., and a major contributor to the development of the film industry. Along with his three y ...
, a Polish-born Jewish-American studio executive, one of the founders of Warner Bros., and a major contributor to the development of the film industry. * Jack L. Warner, a Canadian-born Jewish-American film executive who was the president and driving force behind the Warner Bros. Studios. *
Sam Warner Samuel Louis Warner (born Szmuel Wonsal, August 10, 1885 – October 5, 1927) was an American film producer who was the co-founder and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. He established the studio along with his brothers Harry, Albert, and ...
, a Polish-born Jewish-American film producer who was the co-founder and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. Studios. * Carolyn Wasilewski, a 14-year-old victim of an unsolved murder that made national headlines. *
Leo Wolman Leo Wolman (February 24, 1890 – October 2, 1961) was a noted American economist whose work focused on labor economics. He also served on a number of important boards and commissions for the federal government. Early life Wolman was born in B ...
, a noted economist whose work focused on labor economics.


Fictional Polish-Americans from Baltimore

Several Polish-American characters played major roles in the television series ''
The Wire ''The Wire'' is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. ''The Wire'' premiered on June 2, ...
''. Among them, the most important were: * Roland Pryzbylewski *
Frank Sobotka Francis "Frank" Sobotka is a fictional character in of the HBO drama ''The Wire'', played by the actor Chris Bauer. Plot Frank is a respected Polish-American treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores at the Baltimore docks. A ...
* Nick Sobotka * Ziggy Sobotka *
Stan Valchek Stanislaus "Stan" Valchek is a fictional character on the HBO drama ''The Wire'', played by actor Al Brown. Biography Valchek is the Polish-American commander of the Baltimore Police Department in the Southeastern district, home to many of the ...


See also

* Ethnic groups in Baltimore *
History of Baltimore This article describes the history of the Baltimore and its surrounding area in central Maryland since the establishment of settlements by European colonists in 1661. Native American settlement The Baltimore area had been inhabited by Native ...


References


Further reading

* Baltimore County Genealogical Society. ''Tombstone inscriptions of Holy Rosary Church Cemetery, Baltimore County, Maryland'', Baltimore County Genealogical Society, 1999. * Baltimore County Genealogical Society. ''Tombstone inscriptions of St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland'', Baltimore County Genealogical Society, 2002. * Haremski, Roman L. ''The unattached, aged immigrant; a descriptive analysis of the problems experienced in old age by three groups of Poles living apart from their families in Baltimore ...'', Washington, D.C., Catholic University of America Press, 1940. * Hollowak, Thomas L. ''A history of Polish longshoremen and their role in the establishment of a union at the port of Baltimore'', Historyk Press, 1996. * Hollowak, Thomas L. ''Baltimore's Polonia: A Brief History'', Historyk Press, 1995. * Przeciszewski, Tadeusz. ''Past and present problems of Polish ethnic groups in America (analyzed primarily through the example of the Baltimore community)'', 1975. * Davis-White, Jeanne S.; Hollowak, Thomas L. ''People of Polonia : the 1910 census, ward one, Baltimore City, Maryland'', Historyk Press, 1993. * Davis-White, Jeanne S.; Hollowak, Thomas L. ''People of Polonia : the 1910 census, Ward two, Baltimore City, Maryland'', Historyk Press, 1994. * Davis-White, Jeanne S.; Hollowak, Thomas L. ''People of Polonia : the 1910 census, ward three, Baltimore City, Maryland'', Historyk Press, 1993.


External links


Baltimore boasts a small but hearty Polish heritageEast Baltimore Christmas Carol tradition continues for 45th year
* ttp://pcamaryland.org/ Maryland's Polish Festivalbr>Percentage of Poles in Baltimore, MD by Zip CodePolish Community of BaltimorePolish TreasuresZe Mean Bean Café
{{Polish Americans by location
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin scree ...
Polish-American history Polish communities in the United States Polish-Jewish culture in Baltimore