Emigration and Genealogy

USA

According to the census 2000, American states with the largest numbers of Poles and Americans of Polish ancestry are New York (958,893), Illinois (946,241), Michigan (900,335), Pennsylvania (855,526), New Jersey (591,347), California (496,588), Wisconsin (481,779), Florida (430,138), Ohio (404,557), Massachusetts (349,998), Connecticut (278,010), Texas (234,861), Minnesota (222,997), Maryland (186,312), Indiana (164,587), Arizona (140,541), Virginia (112,658), Missouri (104,460) and Colorado (97,420). The city with the highest amount of Poles is Chicago - 1.8 millions. Chicago is the second largest "Polish" city in the world. Warsaw, Polish capital is the only city with more Polish residents. New York is on the second place with about 600,000 Polish American in metropolitan area and Detroit is the third with about a half of million. Click to the name of the town to access a link with more information about Polish immigrants.

Read more: Centers of Polish Immigration in the World: USA and Germany

We have already series of articles about history and geographical distribution of Polish immigration (Polonia) in the USA. I apologize to all people of Polish origin who live outside the USA that until now I did not post any review of Polish immigration in other countries. I know that among our readers we have people of Polish origin from Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Germany and probably much more other countries.

Let me start with a short introduction to Polish immigration around the world. We can divide Polonia abroad into two different groups - these who left Poland more or less voluntarily: sometimes because of the hopeless economical situation, sometimes because of the political persecution. Our immigration to Americas, Western Europe and Australia is of this kind.

Read more: Polish Diaspora (Polonia) Worldwide

Poles were usually looking for jobs in industrial regions especially heavy industry centers so their bigger numbers can be found in industrial regions of Michigan or Pennsylvania. The third biggest conglomeration of Polish Americans is in Detroit, Michigan. The Polish district Hamtramck (Hamtramack) is on the Eastern side of town, in so called Canadian side along Joseph Campau street. Hamtramck does not only belong to Poles, also many African Americans and Latinos live there. It is rather an industrial district with many plants offering jobs but the value of property there is rather low.

Read more: Where do Poles live in the USA: Detroit and other Immigration Centers

Chicago is the most known world-wide center of Polish immigration. Poles in Chicago are more visible and spectacular group than the Poles in NYC. Even on the airport O'Hare in Chicago one can hear announcements in Polish quite often. Many custom officers are caring the badges with the information "Mowimy po Polsku" (We are speaking Polish).

Read more: Where do Poles live in the USA: Polish Chicago