Ukrainian-American
Encyclopedia
Ukrainian Americans are citizens and permanent residents of the United States
who have recently emigrated to the United States and are of Ukrainian
ancestry. According to U.S. census estimates, in 2006 there were 961,113 Americans of Ukrainian descent representing 0.33% of the American population. The Ukrainian population of the United States is thus the second largest outside the former Soviet Union
; only Canada has a larger Ukrainian community
. According to the 2000 U.S. census, the metropolitan areas
with the largest numbers of Ukrainian Americans are: New York City
with 160,000 Ukrainians, Philadelphia with 60,000 Ukrainians, Chicago
with 46,000 Ukrainians, Los Angeles
with 34,000, and Detroit with 33,000 Ukrainians.
colony in 1608. Bohdan met captain Smith during the time when the latter had fought the Turks, was captured, and escaped captivity by fleeing through Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and other countries. Large scale Ukrainian immigration to America did not begin, however, until the 1880s.
The largest wave of Ukrainians came in the early 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union
. A large number those emigrating from Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union were Jewish. Many Ukrainians of the newest immigration wave migrated to large cities, creating ethnic neighborhoods. In addition, many Ukrainian Americans have come by way of Canada
, which has a much larger Ukrainian presence (much as with French Americans).
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are 892,922 Americans of full or partial Ukrainian descent. The New York City Metropolitan Area contains by far the largest Ukrainian community in the United States, receiving the highest legal permanent resident Ukrainian immigrant population.
The American states with the largest Ukrainian populations are as follows:
The total number of people born in Ukraine is more than 275,155 inhabitants.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who have recently emigrated to the United States and are of Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
ancestry. According to U.S. census estimates, in 2006 there were 961,113 Americans of Ukrainian descent representing 0.33% of the American population. The Ukrainian population of the United States is thus the second largest outside the former Soviet Union
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
; only Canada has a larger Ukrainian community
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
. According to the 2000 U.S. census, the metropolitan areas
United States metropolitan area
In the United States a metropolitan statistical area is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like...
with the largest numbers of Ukrainian Americans are: 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...
with 160,000 Ukrainians, Philadelphia with 60,000 Ukrainians, 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...
with 46,000 Ukrainians, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with 34,000, and Detroit with 33,000 Ukrainians.
History
The first Ukrainian immigrant to America, Ivan Bohdan sailed with John Smith to the JamestownJamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
colony in 1608. Bohdan met captain Smith during the time when the latter had fought the Turks, was captured, and escaped captivity by fleeing through Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and other countries. Large scale Ukrainian immigration to America did not begin, however, until the 1880s.
The largest wave of Ukrainians came in the early 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. A large number those emigrating from Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union were Jewish. Many Ukrainians of the newest immigration wave migrated to large cities, creating ethnic neighborhoods. In addition, many Ukrainian Americans have come by way of Canada
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
, which has a much larger Ukrainian presence (much as with French Americans).
Demographics
The American states with the largest Ukrainian populations are as follows:
| New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
148,700 | Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
122,291 | 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... |
83,125 | 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... |
73,809 | Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
47,623 |
The total number of people born in Ukraine is more than 275,155 inhabitants.
U.S. communities with high percentages of people of Ukrainian ancestry
The top 20 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Ukrainian ancestry are:- Cass Township, PennsylvaniaCass Township, Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaCass Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Formed in 1848 from part of Branch Township, it is named for Lewis Cass.-Geography:...
(Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaSchuylkill County, Pennsylvania-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
) 14.30% - Belfield, North DakotaBelfield, North DakotaAs of the 2000 Census, there were 866 people, 355 households, and 235 families residing in the city. The population density was 799.8 people per square mile . There were 439 housing units at an average density of 405.4 per square mile...
13.60% - Gulich Township, PennsylvaniaGulich Township, PennsylvaniaGulich Township is a township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,275 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.05% is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
12.70% - Gilberton, PennsylvaniaGilberton, PennsylvaniaGilberton is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, four miles west by south of Mahanoy City. Extensive deposits of coal are in the region, and coal-mining had been practiced by many of the 4,373 people who lived there in 1900. The coal-mining industry was thriving in 1910, and 5,401 people...
12.40% - Wilton, North DakotaWilton, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 807 people, 309 households, and 219 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,395.3 people per square mile . There were 347 housing units at an average density of 599.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.27% White, 0.12%...
10.30% - Lumberland, New YorkLumberland, New YorkLumberland is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 1,939 at the 2000 census.The Town of Lumberland is in the southwest part of the county.- History :...
9.90% - Saint Clair, PennsylvaniaSt. Clair, PennsylvaniaSt. Clair is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania two miles north of Pottsville or the southern Coal Region. Extensive deposits of hard coal are present...
8.80% - Soap Lake, WashingtonSoap Lake, WashingtonSoap Lake is a city in Grant County, Washington, on the shores of Soap Lake. The population was 1,733 at the 2000 census. In 2002, the city announced preliminary plans to construct the world's largest lava lamp as a tourist attraction....
8.10% - Frackville, PennsylvaniaFrackville, PennsylvaniaFrackville is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Frackville is located near the intersection of Interstate 81 and Pennsylvania State Route 61, approximately northeast of Harrisburg and southwest of Wilkes-Barre.-History:...
7.60% - Olyphant, PennsylvaniaOlyphant, PennsylvaniaOlyphant is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, approximately five miles northeast of Scranton on the Lackawanna River in the heart of the anthracite region of the State. Once engaged in the shipping of coal as its main source of employment, Olyphant experienced a severe downturn in the...
and Norwegian Township, PennsylvaniaNorwegian Township, PennsylvaniaNorwegian Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,172 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 5.9 square miles , of which, 5.8 square miles of it is land and...
7.00% - Houtzdale, PennsylvaniaHoutzdale, PennsylvaniaHoutzdale is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 941 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Houtzdale is located at ....
6.90% - Harmony Township, PennsylvaniaHarmony Township, Beaver County, PennsylvaniaHarmony Township is a township and census-designated place in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,373 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Harmony Township is located at ....
(Beaver County, PennsylvaniaBeaver County, Pennsylvania-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
) and Kerhonkson, New YorkKerhonkson, New YorkKerhonkson is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,684 at the 2010 census.Kerhonkson is a small hamlet which, along with Accord, makes up the Town of Rochester on US 209, just south of the town's boundary with the Town of Wawarsing and just north of where US 44...
6.70% - Baden, PennsylvaniaBaden, PennsylvaniaBaden is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 4,377 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Baden is located at...
and McAdoo, PennsylvaniaMcAdoo, PennsylvaniaMcAdoo is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States, south of Hazleton and 7 miles north of Tamaqua. McAdoo contains the picturesque Silver Brook Meadow. In the past, anthracite coal mining and a shirt factory, The McAdoo Manufacturing Company, provided gainful employment to the...
5.90% - Branch Township, PennsylvaniaBranch Township, PennsylvaniaBranch Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Formed in 1838 from part of Norwegian Township, it is named for the west branch of the Schuylkill River, which flows through it.-Geography:...
and Postville, IowaPostville, IowaPostville is a city in Allamakee and Clayton Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. It lies near the junction of four counties and at the intersection of U.S. Routes 18 and 52 and Iowa Highway 51, with airport facilities in the neighboring communities of Waukon, Decorah, Monona, and Prairie du Chien....
5.70% - Woodward Township, PennsylvaniaWoodward Township, Clearfield County, PennsylvaniaWoodward Township is a township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,550 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.2 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
(Clearfield County, PennsylvaniaClearfield County, PennsylvaniaClearfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 81,642.Clearfield County was created on March 26, 1804, from parts of Huntingdon and Lycoming Counties but was administered as part of Centre County until 1812...
) and Northampton, PennsylvaniaNorthampton, PennsylvaniaNorthampton is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough is located in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania...
5.60% - Warren, New YorkWarren, New York----Warren is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. The town is named after General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill....
5.50% - West Leechburg, PennsylvaniaWest Leechburg, PennsylvaniaWest Leechburg is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,290 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Leechburg is located at ....
5.40% - Ambridge, PennsylvaniaAmbridge, PennsylvaniaAmbridge is a borough in Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania, incorporated in 1905 and named after the American Bridge Company. Ambridge is located 16 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, alongside the Ohio River. In 1910, 5,205 people lived in Ambridge; in 1920, 12,730 people lived there, and in...
and Mount Carmel Township, PennsylvaniaMount Carmel Township, PennsylvaniaMount Carmel Township is a township located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Erected in 1854, it was named after Mount Carmel in Israel and was formed from out of part of Coal Township...
5.30% - Ford City, PennsylvaniaFord City, PennsylvaniaFord City is a borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of Pittsburgh along the east bank of the Allegheny River and 4 miles south of Kittanning, the county seat....
5.20% - Bigler Township, PennsylvaniaBigler Township, PennsylvaniaBigler Township is a township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,368 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
and Kline Township, PennsylvaniaKline Township, PennsylvaniaKline Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,591 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
5.10%
U.S. communities with the highest percentage of residents born in Ukraine
Top 20 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of residents born in Ukraine are:- Delta Junction, AK 16.4%
- Deltana, AK 8.4%
- West Hollywood, CA 7.8%
- Lumberland, NY 6.3%
- Moses Lake North, WA 6.0%
- Soap Lake, WA 6.0%
- Postville, IA 5.9%
- Webster, NY 4.8%
- Peaceful Valley, WA 4.8%
- Pikesville, MD 4.5%
- Kerhonkson, NY 3.9%
- North Highlands, CA 3.6%
- Rancho Cordova, CA 3.3%
- Flying Hills, PA 3.2%
- Waverly, NE 3.2%
- Fair Lawn, NJ 3.1%
- Buffalo Grove, IL 2.8%
- Feasterville-Trevose, PA 2.6%
- Smallwood, NYSmallwood, New YorkSmallwood is a hamlet in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 566 at the 2000 census.Smallwood is in the southeast part of the Town of Bethel. It is a hamlet within the town of Bethel, originally founded as the vacation community "Mountain Lakes," but later renamed after...
2.5% - Solvay, NY 2.5%
See also
- European AmericanEuropean AmericanA European American is a citizen or resident of the United States who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
- Hyphenated AmericanHyphenated AmericanIn the United States, the term hyphenated American is an epithet commonly used from 1890 to 1920 to disparage Americans who were of foreign birth or origin, and who displayed an allegiance to a foreign country. It was most commonly used to disparage German Americans or Irish Americans who called...
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of AmericaUkrainian Congress Committee of AmericaEstablished in 1940, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Inc. today unites some 20 Ukrainian organizations and over 75 branches throughout the United States. A 37-person, elected, volunteer Board of Directors governs the UCCA in conjunction with a 73-member National Council made up of...
- The Ukrainian MuseumThe Ukrainian MuseumThe Ukrainian Museum, founded in 1976 by the Ukrainian National Women's League of America , is located at 222 East 6th Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, an claims to be the largest American museum dedicated to the cultural...
(New York CityNew York CityNew 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...
) - List of Ukrainian Americans
- Ukrainian Americans in New York CityUkrainian Americans in New York CityUkrainian Americans have been present in New York City as early as the 17th century when the city was called New Amsterdam. However, first Ukrainian mass immigration wave to New York City occurred during 1870-1899, coinciding with other mass European influxes into the city...
- Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of PhiladelphiaUkrainian Catholic Archeparchy of PhiladelphiaThe Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia is the Catholic archeparchy governing all Ukrainian Greek Catholic eparchies and Ukrainian Greek Catholics in the United States. Its headquarters are at 827 North Franklin Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The current metropolitan is the...
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USAUkrainian Orthodox Church of the USAThe Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA is a jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States. It consists of three eparchies , ruled by two diocesan bishops, including about 85 active parishes and missions. The Church's current primate is Metropolitan Constantine...
- Ukrainian American VeteransUkrainian American VeteransThe Ukrainian American Veterans is a 501 non-profit organization of the United States, composed of Honorably Discharged Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, who are of Ukrainian heritage or descent. The UAV obtained its tax-exempt status from the IRS in 1984 and was incorporated in the...
- Ukrainian CanadianUkrainian CanadianA Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
- Ukrainian AustralianUkrainian AustralianThe Ukrainians are an ethnic minority in Australia, numbering about 20,000 people, hence making up 0.16% of the total population. Currently, the main concentrations of Ukrainians are located in Melbourne and Sydney.- History :...
- Ukrainian Genealogical Research Bureau