Colombian American

Colombian Americans

George Zamka • Rodolfo Llinás • Soraya Scott Gomez • Moises Arias • Alexa Vega Greg Giraldo • John Leguizamo • Sofia Vergara Dora Bermúdez
Total population
730,510 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

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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.

Causes of migration

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 and Texas, mainly in the Los Angeles and Houston area.

Colombians in New York City

In New York City, a large Colombian community thrives and expands in size in 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.

Settlements in the United States

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.^[2][3]

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

The top 25 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Colombian ancestry are:^[3]

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

The top 25 U.S. communities with the most residents born in Colombia are:^[4]

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

See also: Demographics of Colombia

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.

Cultural traditions in the United States

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

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

References

1. ^ "S0201. Selected Population Profile in the United States". http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IPTable?_bm=y&-reg=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201:417;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201PR:417;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201T:417;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201TPR:417&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201PR&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201T&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201TPR&-ds_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_&-TABLE_NAMEX=&-ci_type=A&-redoLog=false&-charIterations=047&-geo_id=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en. Retrieved 2007-04-15. 
2. ^ Colombian Immigration
3. ^ ^{a b} "Ancestry Map of Colombian Communities". Epodunk.com. http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Colomban.html. Retrieved 2008-01-25. 
4. ^ "Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Colombia (population 500+)". city-data.com. http://www.city-data.com/top2/h155.html. Retrieved 2008-07-16. 

External links

• everyculture.com Colombian Americans