Colombian Americans

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George Zamka • Rodolfo Llinás • Soraya Scott Gomez • Moises Arias • Alexa Vega Greg Giraldo • John Leguizamo • Sofia Vergara
Total population
908,734 0.66% of the U.S. population [1]
Regions with significant populations
Central Florida, South Florida (Doral, Kendall, Weston and Hialeah,)Tampa Bay Area New York, New York (Queens and Jackson Heights, Queens) New Jersey (North Jersey) Boston, Massachusetts (Chelsea and (Somerville, Massachusetts), Texas (Houston), California (Los Angeles), and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area
Languages
American English, Spanish,
Religion
Predominately Roman Catholic. Other branches of Christianity (Protestant, Evangelical, Baptist, etc.); small Judaism, Atheism and Agnostic.
Related ethnic groups
Spaniards, Mestizo, Afro-Colombian, Mulatto, Demographics of Colombia

Colombian Americans are citizens of the United States who trace their nationality or heritage from the South American nation of Colombia. They are the largest South American ethnic group in the United States.

History[link]

The first Colombians inmigrants that settled in the United States arrived, probably, in the nineteenth century. However, the Colombian presence in United States would not be known with certainty since the federal census did not specify the country of origin for South Americans until 1960. These immigrants did not maintain any relation with their native countries, just until a few generations after, they identify themselves only as Americans.

The first Colombian community formed after World War I, through the arrival of several hundred professionals (nurses, accountants, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, and bilingual secretaries) that established to New York City; more late, were added to community the students who decided stay on after earning their degrees. Most immigrants settled in Jackson Heights, a middle-class neighborhood in Queens, that have good houses, school and churches. The growth of neighborhood was slow until 1940, when increase the Colombian immigration to New York.

Most Colombians who arrived after the mid-1960s wanted to stay in the United States temporarily. Therefore, increased the number of Colombian illegal immigrants: This immigrants were of 250,000 to 350,000 people in the mid 1970s. Despite a succession of immigration laws, the Colombian population in the United States continued to grow. New York remained the most popular destination. Smaller communities formed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Washington, D.C. and , in the 1970s, North Side, Chicago. since the 80´s, many Colombians be established in Miami (especially in his suburbs, such as Doral, Kendall, and Hialeah, and the Weston suburb of Fort Lauderdale). Initially they settle in Little Havana, the largest Cuban neighborhood, engaged, many them, in business of trade between Miami and Latin America. The area also attracted to the Colombian wealthy, who settle there to get medical care, send their children to school, and escape from social, economic, and political turmoil in Colombia. Thus, by 1987 Colombian Americans were one of the Hispanic groups that more grew rapidly in Miami. By the early 1990s, many Colombian American left the metropolitan centers for the suburbs, because to crime, and the high cost of urban living. This trend was started by first time probably in the coastal towns of Connecticut and New York. Thus, the Colombians communities had a great growth in places as Stamford, Connecticut, Bergenline and Englewood, New Jersey, Jacksonville, Florida (that attracted a growing number of people from Miami), and Skokie, Evanston, Arlington Heights and Park Ridge, Illinois. Despite of this migration to others areas, the more large communities remained in New York City, Miami, and their environs. In 1990 and 1991, 43,891 Colombians were admitted to the United States, more than from any other South American country. Also, they also were for the first more important group of undocumented immigrants of South America. The 1992 and 1997 were years in which the guerrillas in Colombia increased, so nearly 75,000 Colombians immigrated to the United States in this period, many of them staying in California.^[2]

Causes of migration[link]

Economic problems and violence have led to an emigration of Colombians to the United States, particularly South Florida (especially in the suburbs of Miami, Florida such as Doral, Kendall, and Hialeah, and the Weston suburb of Fort Lauderdale), Central Florida, New Jersey (North Jersey), Queens County in New York City, the Washington DC metro area, eastern Long Island, and an expanding community in California, Texas and Utah, mainly in the Los Angeles, Houston and Salt Lake City area. After of World War I, many Colombians immigrated to United States in order to complete their education there, studying in the universities of this country. Most of them settled in New York. After the civil war in 1948 and increased poverty in Colombia many Colombians also emigrated to United States during the 50's. In the 60's, the economic crisis prompted the emigration of many Colombians to the United States, obtaining U.S. citizenship 116.444 Between 1960 and 1977 Colombians. Since the 80's, many Colombians American fled their urban cities to migrate to areas smaller of states like Connecticut or New Jersey, due to the high cost of living in big cities and an increase in crime in them. The increase of the guerrillas in Colombia between 1992 and 1997 also boosted the Colombian emigration during this period. As we discussed earlier, about 75,000 Colombians immigrated at that time the United States, concentrating mostly in the state of California.^[2]

Demography[link]

Settlements in the United States[link]

As of the 2000 Census, 228,400 Colombians were living in the New York metro area and 169,271 Colombians were living in the Miami metropolitan area. The largest Colombian community lives in the South Florida area (Doral, Kendall, Weston, and Hialeah) with a population of 138,768,^[3][4] and Jackson Heights in Queens County, New York city.^[2]

Colombians in New York City[link]

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In New York City, a large Colombian community thrives and continues to expand in size since the wave of immigration began in the 1970s. Jackson Heights in Queens County was heavily Colombian during the 1980s, but other immigrant groups have settled in the area, notably Mexicans. Many of the displaced Colombians have moved to close areas such as Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Corona, College Point and Flushing. Queens County still has the largest concentration of Colombians in the United States of any county (roughly 75,000). Colombians are among the largest South American immigrant groups to the United States, and now the third largest Latino nationality in the U.S.

The top 25 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Colombian ancestry[link]

The top 25 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Colombian ancestry are:^[4]

1. Victory Gardens, New Jersey 15.27%
2. Dover, New Jersey 11.27%
3. The Hammocks, Florida 10.02%
4. Central Falls, Rhode Island 9.94%
5. Montauk, New York 9.53%
6. Doral, Florida 8.71%
7. Country Club, Florida 8.63%
8. Morristown, New Jersey 7.98%
9. Englewood, New Jersey 7.17%
10. Virginia Gardens, Florida 7.16%
11. Key Biscayne, Florida 7.07%
12. Elizabeth, New Jersey 6.46%
13. Kendale Lakes, Florida 6.36%
14. Weston, Florida 6.19%
15. Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 6.07%
16. West New York, New Jersey 5.82%
17. North Bergen, New Jersey 5.77%
18. both Fountainbleau, Florida and North Bay Village, Florida 5.29%
19. Guttenberg, New Jersey 5.28%
20. Richmond West, Florida 5.13%
21. Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 4.72%
22. Surfside, Florida 4.66%
23. Hialeah Gardens, Florida 4.62%
24. Kendall, Florida 4.56%
25. Union City, New Jersey 4.53%

U.S. communities with the most residents born in Colombia[link]

The top 25 U.S. communities with the most residents born in Colombia are:^[5]

1. Victory Gardens, NJ 17.3%
2. Dover, NJ 14.3%
3. Virginia Gardens, FL 12.3%
4. Kendall West, FL 11.9%
5. The Hammocks, FL 11.6%
6. Central Falls, RI 11.4%
7. Country Club, FL 11.3%
8. Morristown, NJ 9.8%
9. Montauk, NY 9.0%
10. Broadview-Pompano Park, FL 8.9%
11. Doral, FL 8.6%
12. Englewood, NJ 8.3%
13. East Hampton North, NY 8.1%
14. Fort Devens, MA 8.0%
15. Key Biscayne, FL 7.9%
16. Kendale Lakes, FL 7.8%
17. Sunny Isles Beach, FL 7.5%
18. Kendale Lakes-Lindgren Acres, FL 7.5%
19. The Crossings, FL 7.4%
20. Elizabeth, NJ 7.2%
21. North Bay Village, FL 7.0%
22. Weston, FL 6.7%
23. West New York, NJ 6.3%
24. Hialeah Gardens, FL 6.1%
25. Kendall, FL 6.0%

Ethnic composition of Colombians in the United States[link]

Ethnically, Colombians are a diverse population including Colombians of Indigenous ancestry, Afro-Colombians, and Colombians of European ancestry (mainly Spanish and Italian). However, the majority of Colombians are Mestizo (Amerindian/European). In addition, Colombians of Middle Eastern descent, notably Syrian and Lebanese, also compose Colombian society. Until 1960, most Colombians emigrating to the United States were white or mestizos between this year and 1977, a period in which more than 116,000 Colombians emigrated to the United States, are becoming more ethnically diverse, representing the ethnic diversity of the population Colombian. So today, although most Colombian Americans are white and mestizos, are also numerous Afro Colombian Americans in the American population^[2]

Cultural traditions in the United States[link]

Musical styles that are enjoyed by Colombian Americans include vallenato, salsa and cumbia. The vast majority of Colombians are Roman Catholic, although younger Colombians are significantly more secular than the older generation.^{[citation needed]} Colombian food is varied due to the several distinct regions of Colombia. Popular dishes include bandeja paisa, sancocho (chicken or fish soup with plantain), empanadas (meat-filled turnovers), pandebono (a type of cheese-bread), and arepas (corncake similar to a tortilla). Colombian food is popular and well-known in Queens County. The main pastime of Colombians in the United States is soccer, and most Colombian Americans raised in the United States continue to follow soccer. Another popular pastime, especially among the older generation, is parqués, a Colombian board game which is very similar to Parcheesi.

Colombian-Americans in Pro sports[link]

Ice Hockey

• Scott Gomez - Currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL.

NASCAR

• Juan Pablo Montoya - Also ex-Formula One racer.

Soccer

• Juan Agudelo - Currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in MLS and for the United States national team.
• Juan Pablo Ángel - Currently plays for Chivas USA in MLS and formerly played for the New York Red Bulls and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
• Alejandro Bedoya - Currently plays for Rangers F.C. in the Scottish Premier League and for the United States national team.
• Jair Benítez - Currently plays for FC Dallas in MLS.
• Wilman Conde, Jr. - Currently plays for the Chicago Fire in MLS.
• David Ferreira - Currently plays for FC Dallas in MLS.
• Carlos Llamosa - Played in MLS and for U.S. at 2002 FIFA World Cup, currently retired
• Fredy Montero - Currently plays for the Seattle Sounders in MLS.
• Jámison Olave - Currently plays for Real Salt Lake in MLS.
• Carlos Valderrama (footballer) - Soccer legend also known as "El Pibe" played for several MLS clubs the late 90s.

Baseball

• List of Major League Baseball players from Colombia

Cyclist George Hincapie, Tour De France Competitor

See Also[link]

• List of Colombian Americans

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Colombia Americans

• The Colombian American Coalition of Florida

v t e Colombian people In Colombia Demographics of Colombia · Afro-Colombians · Lists of Colombians · Race and ethnicity in Colombia Diaspora Australia · Mexico · Spain · United Kingdom · United States · People of Colombian descent