Macedonian Americans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Macedonian Americans |
|---|
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| Total population |
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43,000 (2002 census) |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Michigan, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida |
| Languages |
| English, Macedonian |
| Religions |
| Predominantly Macedonian Orthodox with some Muslim adherents |
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Macedonian Americans are Americans of ethnic Macedonian descent.
Contents |
[edit] Immigration
Macedonian immigration to the United States began in the early twentieth century, as poverty forced many peasants to seek economic opportunities abroad. For this reason, it is difficult to determine precise numbers of Macedonian immigrants. It is estimated, however, that between 1903 and 1906, approximately 50,000 Macedonians[1] entered the United States. From 1906 to the outbreak of the Balkan Wars and World War I, a few thousand more arrived. The first Macedonian immigrants came primarily from the western parts of Macedonia, near the towns of Kastoria, Florina, and Bitola. About 80 percent of these immigrants were peasants, with small craftsmen, workers, and intellectuals making up the remainder. The vast majority of early Macedonian immigrants were gurbetchii or pechalbari, single men driven by poverty to seek their fortunes in America, but who expected to return to their homeland after a few years.
[edit] History
After World War I, many Macedonians in America returned to Europe, with only about 20,000 Macedonians remaining in the United States. Further immigration was seriously affected by passage of the Immigration Act of 1924 (the Johnson-Reed Act), which established quotas for each national group based on their numbers in the American population in 1920. Because Macedonian immigration had begun so late, and because many immigrants had returned to their homeland, the basis for the Macedonian quota was extremely low. Nevertheless, though new immigration was much slower during the period between the world wars, Macedonians continued to enter the United States. Many arrived via Canada, crossing the border into Detroit to evade quota restrictions. During this period, increasing numbers of Macedonians also arrived from Greece. By 1945, the number of Macedonians in the United States had reached an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people.
When the Yugoslav Federation was created after World War II, however, Macedonian immigration slowed significantly. Yugoslavia's support of Macedonian autonomy, as well as economic improvements in Macedonia, encouraged Macedonians to remain there. From 1945 to 1960, only about 2,000 Macedonians arrived in the United States from Yugoslavia. During the 1960s and 1970s, however, after emigration policies were liberalized, as many as 40,000 Macedonians left Yugoslavia for Canada, Australia, and the United States. Few from Bulgaria, however, were allowed to leave. As many as 70,000 Macedonians living in Greece left that country after World War II [2], when Slavs were expelled from the area of Macedonia annexed by Greece from the Ottoman Empire after World War I. Many settled in Canada, where the Macedonian community in Toronto grew to more than 150,000. Smaller numbers moved to Australia and the United States.
During the 1990s, Macedonian immigration again increased. Newcomers followed the same settlement patterns of earlier immigrants, settling in large urban centers in the Midwest. Like earlier generations, most came to take advantage of economic opportunities. Others entered the United States to enroll in colleges and universities. The 1990 U.S. census listed the number of Macedonian Americans as 20,365 but that figure almost certainly under-represents the actual population.
[edit] Religion
American Protestant churches played a notable role in Macedonian immigration. Congregational and Methodist churches began missionary activities in the Balkans in the 1860s and 1870s, and sent many Macedonians to the United States to attend college. When these individuals returned, they spoke highly of their experiences in America. In addition, the churches established numerous schools in Balkan cities and towns. These activities created a positive image of America and prompted interest in immigration.
[edit] Settlement patterns
Though a small proportion of Macedonians who came to the United States from Yugoslavia in the 1950s and 1960s were political dissidents, the majority of Macedonian immigrants were compelled by economic motives. Early Macedonian immigrants from Bulgaria settled in America's northern and eastern industrial centers, especially in the Midwest, where they were able to find unskilled jobs in heavy industries. A large community sprang up in Detroit, which numbered from as many as 15,000 to 20,000 Macedonian Americans by the 1980s. Macedonians also settled in large numbers in Gary, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois, and the Ohio cities of Columbus, Akron, Lorain, Cincinnati, Canton, and Massillon. Other communities were established in Passaic, New Jersey and in New York City, Lackawanna, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, New York.
Adjusting to industrial jobs and a competitive economic setting was often difficult for Macedonian immigrants, who had come from relatively poor rural areas dominated by an authoritative political regime. Upon their arrival in the United States, they often took hazardous jobs in mines, steel mills and foundries, and railroad construction. Since most immigrants were single men, residents from the same village or region in their homeland tended to stay together in America for social support. Coffee houses and boarding houses became important places where immigrants could socialize and share job prospects, read newspapers and discuss politics, and participate in their associations. Where Macedonians were few in number, they often associated with other Slavic or Orthodox communities.
Macedonian immigrants established fraternal, mutual aid, and cultural societies in America that offered assistance when members lost their jobs or became ill. These societies were organized according to place of origin, and often sent material aid back to their respective villages in Macedonia. The Macedonian Orthodox Church also served as an important cohesive presence.
[edit] Notable Macedonian-Americans
- Mike Ilitch - Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
- Denise Ilitch
- Christopher Ilitch
- Marian Bayoff Ilitch
- Mike Vrabel - linebacker for the New England Patriots
- Vladimir Cetkar - jazz guitarist in New York City
- Tim Goeglein - former Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Public Liaison, Office of Public Liaison, Executive Office of the President under George W. Bush
- Mike Zafirovski - CEO of Nortel, Inc. and Director, Board of Directors, Boeing
- Kristopher Maslardzievski - Actor in Los Angeles, California
- Katrina Markoff - Owner/Founder, Vosges Haut-Chocolat
- Slavco Madzarov - President, Slavco Construction, Inc.
- Lou Vlasho- Vergina Restaurants, Naples Florida
- Andrew Peykoff Sr. - CEO and owner of Niagara Drinking Water
- Jovan Kirovski - US soccer player
- Gjorgija George Atanasoski-Owner of Macedonian Sun magazine.
- Dino Delevski - Indoor Soccer player
- Sandre Naumovski - Indoor Soccer player; Republic of Macedonia soccer team member
- Kevin Kouzmanoff - San Diego Padres third baseman
- George Nanchoff - indoor/outdoor soccer player
- Louis Nanchoff - indoor/outdoor soccer player
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
- United Macedonian Diaspora
- Macedonian Community of New Jersey (MCNJ)
- Macedonian Festival in New Jersey
- Makedonski Glas-Macedonian Newspaper in USA
- Macedonian Yellow Pages
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