Georgian American
| |||||||||
| Total population | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200,000[1] | |||||||||
| Regions with significant populations | |||||||||
| New York City Metropolitan Area (including Northern New Jersey),[2][3][4][5] and other major U.S. metro areas[2] | |||||||||
| Languages | |||||||||
| Predominantly English and Georgian. | |||||||||
| Religion | |||||||||
| Predominantly Eastern Orthodox, with some Catholics, Judaism | |||||||||
.jpg)
_-_1940s.jpg)
.jpg)
| Part of a series on |
| Georgians ქართველები |
|---|
.jpg) The Kartvelian people |
| Nation |
| Georgia |
| Ancient Kartvelian people |
| Colchians · Iberians |
| Subgroups |
| Zans · Svans |
| Culture |
| Music · Media · Sport · Calligraphy · Cinema · Cuisine · Dances · Costume · Calendar · Mythology · Architecture |
| Language |
| Alphabet · Dialects · Grammar |
| Religion |
|
Georgian Orthodox Church Christianity · Catholicism Islam · Judaism Saint Nino · Saint George |
| Symbols |
| Borjgali · Cross of Bolnisi · Grapevine cross · Cross of Saint George |
| History of Georgia |
Georgian Americans (Georgian: ქართველი ამერიკელები) are Americans of Georgian descent.
The precise number of Americans of Georgian descent is unknown, since during their main stage of immigration of the early 20th century the immigration records often did not differentiate between various ethnic groups originating from Russian Empire, of which Georgia was part until 1918.
History
Early stages of immigration
The earliest recorded Georgian immigrants to the US were the Georgian horsemen. One group came in 1890 as part of a troupe of Cossack horsemen hired by Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild Congress of Rough Riders. The number of Georgians coming to the U.S. saw an increase after the political upheavals following the Russian Revolution when the Georgian nobility and intellectuals, including those residing in other parts of the Russian Empire, fled the country. A second wave of immigration of Georgians to the U.S. followed the Red Army invasion of Georgia when the remaining nobility and members of the intellectual class fled the country fearing deportation and imminent death in Russian Siberia.
Immigration during and following the Soviet Union
Emigration from Georgia was brought to a halt when in the 1920s and 30s the Soviet Union put in place restrictions on travel, both in and out of the Union. Despite this, some Georgians managed to flee to the U.S. during World War II, especially those who lived in liberated parts of Eastern Europe, as well as members of the military personnel who were stationed abroad. Following World War II, emigration from Soviet Georgia was virtually nonexistent until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, following which an estimated one-fifth of the country's population left. Unlike the first half of the 20th century, this final wave of emigration was not limited to the nobility, intellectuals, or military personnel.
Assimilation
Georgian-Americans created several organizations in order to maintain their culture. In 1924, organizations of Georgian-Americans were founded in the cities of San Francisco and New York. These organizations held cultural and social events, and has helped other immigrants. Between 1955 and 1975, the American press was very active in Georgia. Kartuli Azri (Georgian Opinion) was the most popular newspaper and its maintenance was based primarily on donations from Americans in Georgia. Although, over the years, Georgians have adapted to American culture, Georgian Americans still retain aspects of Georgian culture.[1]
Most notable Georgian Americans
- John Shalikashvili, general
- George Balanchine, 20th century's most famous choreographers, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet
- Andrew Eristoff, politician
- Alexander Kartveli, aircraft designer of the 20th century
- Michael Gregor, aircraft engineer
- Svetlana Alliluyeva, daughter of Joseph Stalin
- Georges V. Matchabelli, an perfumer and a former diplomat
- Alexander Tarsaidze, an American writer and historian
- Alexander Toradze, a classical concert pianist
- Giorgi Latso, a classical concert pianist, composer and doctor of musical arts
- Valery Chalidze, author and publisher
- Lasha Darbaidze, honorary counsel of Georgia
- David Datuna, artist
- Wachtang Djobadze, historian
- Kola Kwariani, wrestler
- Khatuna Lorig, archer
- George Papashvily, writer and sculptor
- Tamir Sapir, businessman
- Dimitri Jorjadze, race car driver
- Alex d'Arbeloff, entrepreneur
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Georgian Americans
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2012 Supplemental Table 2". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ↑ "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2011 Supplemental Table 2". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ↑ "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2010 Supplemental Table 2". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ↑ "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2009 Supplemental Table 2". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
See also
External links
- Georgian Association in the United States of America
- Georgian America Foundation
- Tvistomi Association - Georgian Community Organization in New York
- Tvistomi Medical Group, New York
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||