Bolivian American is a compound term that applies to American citizens of Bolivian origin. Racially, Bolivian Americans are identified as Indigenous, European (mostly Spanish

Spanish people

The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....

, German, or Croatian), Afro Bolivian

Afro Bolivian

Afro Bolivians are Bolivians of African ancestry, and to historical or cultural elements in Bolivia thought to emanate from this community. The term can refer to the combining of African and other cultural elements found in Bolivian society such as religion, music, language, the arts, and class...

, or a combination of any or all three races in varying degrees of admixture. Furthermore, there are Bolivian Americans of Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

 descent, albeit, in small numbers.

Bolivian immigration into the United States occurred in two significant phases. The first phase occurred during and subsequent to the 1952 National Revolution (between 1952 and the latter 1960s). Most of these immigrants consisted of middle- to upper-middle income occupational professionals or political dissidents, and identify with Bolivia's White or Criollo (mixed White) society.

The second notable phase of Bolivian immigration (between 1980 and 1988) was a result of Bolivia's fiscal policies in the 1970s which gave way to the hyperinflation throughout most of the 1980s. Most of these immigrants consisted of lower-income Mestizo and Indigenous Bolivians obtaining work posts as service and manual laborers.

Bolivians have settled throughout the United States, mainly in Washington D.C., Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

, and Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

; there are also large groups of Bolivian immigrants in Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

, South Florida, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, Rhode Island

Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

, Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

 and California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. The number of Bolivians in the U.S. in 2006 was estimated at 82,322.

US communities with high percentages of people of Bolivian ancestry

The top 101 US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Bolivian ancestry (and/or born in Bolivia) are:

1. Seven Corners, VA 3.7%
2. Pimmit Hills, VA 3.4%
3. Lake Barcroft, VA 3.1%
4. Bailey's Crossroads, VA 3.0%
5. Annandale, VA 2.9%
6. Jefferson, VA 2.9%
7. Arlington, VA 2.8%
8. Mantua, VA 1.9%
9. Idylwood, VA 1.8%
10. Lincolnia, VA 1.7%
11. Quioque, NY
    Quioque, New York
    Quiogue is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 800 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Quiogue is located at ....
    
     1.6%
12. Golden Beach, FL 1.5%
13. Merrifield, VA 1.4%
14. Dunn Loring, VA 1.4%
15. Queenstown, MD 1.1%
16. Aspen Hill, MD 1.1%
17. Islandia, NY 1.1%
18. Falls Church, VA 1.1%
19. Temelec, CA 1.1%
20. Stacey Street, FL 1.1%
21. Springfield, VA 1.1%
22. Oakton, VA 1.0%
23. Port Chester, NY 1.0%
24. Benoit, MS 0.9%
25. Wheaton-Glenmont, MD 0.9%
26. Rye Brook, NY 0.9%
27. Union Hall, VA 0.8%
28. Cabin John, MD 0.8%
29. Madill, OK 0.8%
30. Watson, IL 0.8%
31. North Bay Village, FL 0.8%
32. Vienna, VA 0.8%
33. Matinecock, NY
    Matinecock, New York
    The Village of Matinecock is a village located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 810 at the 2010 census.- History :The village was incorporated in 1928...
    
     0.8%
34. Saucier, MS 0.8%
35. Rose Hill, VA 0.8%
36. Rockville, MD 0.7%
37. Foxborough, MA 0.7%
38. North Kensington, MD 0.7%
39. Reston, VA 0.7%
40. Thonotosassa, FL 0.7%
41. North Bethesda, MD 0.7%
42. Robesonia, PA 0.6%
43. Alexandria, VA 0.6%
44. Friendship Village, MD 0.6%
45. Cedarhurst, NY 0.6%
46. Schuyler, NE 0.6%
47. Burke, VA 0.6%
48. Groveton, VA 0.6%
49. Bagdad, FL 0.6%
50. West Springfield, VA 0.6%
51. The Crossings, FL 0.6%
52. Jamaica Beach, TX 0.6%
53. Rosemount, OH 0.6%
54. Glenvar Heights, FL 0.5%
55. White Oak, MD 0.5%
56. Kendall West, FL 0.5%
57. Huntington, VA 0.5%
58. Montgomery Village, MD 0.5%
59. Herndon, VA 0.5%
60. Hybla Valley, VA 0.5%
61. Sunshine Ranches, FL 0.5%
62. Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ 0.5%
63. Doral, FL 0.5%
64. Brentwood, MD 0.5%
65. Green Meadow, FL 0.5%
66. Highland Acres, DE 0.5%
67. Hamburg, NJ 0.5%
68. Miami Springs, FL 0.5%
69. Middleburg, VA 0.5%
70. Alum Rock, CA 0.5%
71. Damascus, MD 0.5%
72. Gaithersburg, MD 0.5%
73. South River, NJ 0.5%
74. Germantown, MD 0.5%
75. Woodside, CA 0.4%
76. Sea Ranch Lakes, FL 0.4%
77. Ladera Heights, CA 0.4%
78. Lookout Mountain, GA 0.4%
79. Rossmoor, MD 0.4%
80. Inwood, NY
    Inwood, New York
    Inwood is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 9,792 at the 2010 census.Inwood is included among the Five Towns, an informal grouping of villages and hamlets in Nassau County on the South Shore of western Long Island adjoining the...
    
     0.4%
81. Hopkins, MN 0.4%
82. West Monroe, MI 0.4%
83. Lake Ridge, VA 0.4%
84. Langley Park, MD 0.4%
85. Gap, PA 0.4%
86. Landover Hills, MD 0.4%
87. Mill Neck, NY
    Mill Neck, New York
    Mill Neck is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Mill Neck is located at .The highest point of Mill Neck is Mill Hill....
    
     0.4%
88. Selma, TX 0.4%
89. North Marshall, OK 0.4%
90. Somerville, ME 0.4%
91. Hanson, MA 0.4%
92. Ashland, NJ 0.4%
93. Richmond Heights, FL 0.4%
94. Newington, VA 0.4%
95. Salisbury, CT 0.4%
96. Hackensack, NJ 0.4%
97. Bethesda, MD 0.4%
98. Waltham, MA 0.4%
99. Deal, NJ 0.4%
100. Providence, RI 0.4%
101. Yaphank, NY 0.4%

Notable Bolivian Americans

• Raquel Welch
  Raquel Welch
  Jo Raquel Tejada , better known as Raquel Welch, is an American actress, author and sex symbol. Welch came to attention as a "new-star" on the 20th Century-Fox lot in the mid-1960s. She posed iconically in a animal skin bikini for the British-release One Million Years B.C. , for which she may be...
  
  , actress
• Jaime Escalante
  Jaime Escalante
  Jaime Alfonso Escalante Gutierrez was a Bolivian educator well-known for teaching students calculus from 1974 to 1991 at Garfield High School, East Los Angeles, California...
  
  , educator
• Jaime Laredo
  Jaime Laredo
  Jaime Laredo is a violinist and conductor. Currently the conductor and Music Director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, he began his musical career when he was five years old. In 1948 he came to North America and took lessons from Antonio DeGrass...
  
  , violinist
• Jaime Moreno
  Jaime Moreno
  Jaime Moreno Morales is a former Bolivian footballer now serving as Youth Academy Technical Training Coach for D.C. United in Major League Soccer, and as the head coach of D.C. United's U-23 side....
  
  , footballer
• Marco Etcheverry
  Marco Etcheverry
  Marco Antonio Etcheverry Vargas is a retired Bolivian footballer, considered one of the greatest Bolivian players of all time.-Career:...
  
  , footballer
• Reynaldo H. Lopez
• Ben Mikaelsen
  Ben Mikaelsen
  Ben Mikaelsen is a writer of children's literature.Mikaelsen is a Settler in the United States of Danish descent. He wasn't sent to school until the fourth grade where he was heavily bullied for his race. Some years later, Mikaelsen moved with his family to the United States where he entered the...
  
  , writer
• Cecilia Muñoz
  Cecilia Muñoz
  Cecilia Muñoz has served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House since January 21, 2009. A longtime civil rights advocate, she worked as Senior Vice President for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza , a nonprofit organization...
  
  , politician
• Kori Udovički, politician
• Wilfredo Mercado, Musician
• Tom Trigo
• Rodolfo Rodrigues

External links

2006 American Community Survey: Race and Hispanic or Latino

• Bolivian-American Project