Greek Americans

Greek Americans (Greek: Ελληνοαμερικάνοι, Ellinoamerikani) are Americans of full or partial Greek ancestry. About 1.3 million American people are of Greek descent,^[1] although there are estimates that raise this number to 3 million,^[2] and 321,144 people older than five spoke Greek at home in 2010.^[13]

Greek Americans have the highest concentrations in the New York City,^[3][14][15] Boston,^[4] and Chicago^[5] regions, but have settled in major metropolitan areas across the United States. In 2000, Tarpon Springs, Florida was home to the highest per capita representation of Greek Americans in the country (11%). The United States is home to the largest overseas Greek community, ahead of Australia, Cyprus, Albania, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

History

Early history

A young Greek immigrant on Ellis Island, New York City, late 19th century

The first Greek known to have been to what is now the United States was Don Theodoro, a sailor who landed on Florida with the Narváez expedition in 1528.^[16][17] He died during the expedition, as did most of his companions.

In 1592, Greek captain Juan de Fuca (Ioannis Fokas or Apostolos Valerianos) sailed up the Pacific coast under the Spanish flag, in search of the fabled Northwest Passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic. He reported discovering a body of water, a strait which today bears his name: the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which today forms part of the Canada – United States border.

About 500 Greeks from Smyrna, Crete, and Mani settled in New Smyrna Beach, Florida in 1768. The colony was unsuccessful, and the settlers moved to St. Augustine in 1776, where their traces, except for the St Photios Greek Chapel, were lost to history.^[18][19]

19th century

Scientific American Supplement in June 1897: "The Battle of Velestino - The Greeks bringing in their wounded from the fighting line".

Greek-American volunteers in the Balkan Wars

The first significant Greek community to develop was in New Orleans, Louisiana during the 1850s. By 1866, the community was numerous and prosperous enough to have a Greek consulate and the first Greek Orthodox Church in the United States.^[20] During that period, most Greek immigrants to the New World came from Asia Minor and those Aegean Islands still under Ottoman rule. By 1890, there were almost 15,000 Greeks living in the U.S.

Immigration picked up again in the 1890s and early 20th century, due largely to economic opportunity in the U.S., displacement caused by the hardships of Ottoman rule, the Balkan Wars, and World War I. Most of these immigrants had come from southern Greece, especially from the Peloponnesian provinces of Laconia and Arcadia.^[21][22] 450,000 Greeks arrived to the States between 1890 and 1917, most working in the cities of the northeastern United States; others labored on railroad construction and in mines of the western United States; another 70,000 arrived between 1918 and 1924. Each wave of immigration contributed to the growth of Hellenism in the U.S.

Greek immigration at this time was over 90% male, contrasted with most other European immigration to the U.S., such as Italian and Irish immigration, which averaged 50% to 60% male. Many Greek immigrants expected to work and return to their homeland after earning capital and dowries for their families. Two factors changed attitudes and facilitated permanent immigration: 1) Loss of homeland: In 1885, Eastern Rumelia, an Ottoman autonomous territory with a Greek minority^[23][24] became de facto part of the Principality of Bulgaria (de jure from 1908). Then, in 1923, a population exchange between Greece and Turkey resulted in the flight of some 1,500,000 Greeks from Anatolia, Eastern Thrace and Pontus. In both cases, these Greeks were de jure denaturalized from those homelands and lost the right to return and their families were made refugees. 2) The first widely implemented U.S. immigration limits against Europeans were made in 1923, creating an impetus for immigrants to apply for citizenship, bring their families and permanently settle in the U.S. Fewer than 30,000 Greek immigrants arrived in the U.S. between 1925 and 1945, many of whom were "picture brides" for single Greek men.^[25][26]

20th century

Jim Londos, popular wrestler in US and Greece

Archbishop Iakovos and Vice President Agnew at White House

The events of the early 1920s also provided the stimulus for the first permanent national Greek American religious and civic organizations. Greeks again began to arrive in large numbers after 1945, fleeing the economic devastation caused by World War II and the Greek Civil War. From 1946 until 1982, approximately 211,000 Greeks emigrated to the United States. These later immigrants were less influenced by the powerful assimilation pressures of the 1920s and 1930s and revitalized Greek American identity, especially in areas such as Greek-language media.

Greek immigrants founded more than 600 diners in the New York metropolitan area in the 1950s through the 1970s. Immigration to the United States from Greece peaked between the 1950s and 1970.^[27][28] After the 1981 admission of Greece to the European Union, annual U.S. immigration numbers fell to less than 2,000. In recent years, Greek immigration to the United States has been minimal; in fact, net migration has been towards Greece. Over 72,000 U.S. citizens currently live in Greece (1999); most of them are Greek Americans.

The predominant religion among Greeks and Greek Americans is Greek Orthodox Christianity. There are also a number of Americans who descend from Greece's smaller Sephardic and Romaniote Jewish communities.

21st century

In the aftermath of the Greek financial crisis, there has been a resurgence of Greek emigration to New York City since 2010, accelerating in 2015, and centered upon the traditional Greek enclave of Astoria, Queens.^[29] According to The New York Times, this new wave of Greek migration to New York is not being driven as much by opportunities in New York as it is by a lack of economic options in Greece itself.^[29]

Demographics

Distribution of Greek Americans according to the 2000 census

The New York City Metropolitan Area, including Long Island, New York, and Bergen County, New Jersey, is home to the largest Greek population in the United States.^[3][14]

US President George W. Bush welcomes Archbishop Demetrios to the White House to celebrate Greek Independence Day and to recognize the contributions of Greek-Americans to American culture in March 2007

Greek-American building architecture

Top ten metropolitan areas by number of people of Greek ancestry (2010-2012 American Community Survey)

• New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA:^[3] 202,304
• Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA:^[4] 96,871
• Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI CSA:^[5] 93,624
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA CSA:^[6] 56,715
• Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV CSA:^[7] 49,887
• San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA:^[8] 37,697
• Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA:^[9] 35,858
• Detroit-Warren-Flint, MI CSA:^[10] 29,381
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL CSA:^[11] 24,754 (2011-2013)
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area:^[12] 24,622

States by number of people of Greek ancestry (2000 Census)

1. New York 159,763
2. California 125,284
3. Illinois 95,064
4. Massachusetts 78,176
5. Florida 76,908
6. New Jersey 61,510
7. Pennsylvania 56,911
8. Ohio 53,547^[34]
9. Michigan 44,214
10. Indiana 32,319

Communities by percentage of people of Greek ancestry

The US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Greek ancestry are:^[35]

1. Tarpon Springs, Florida 10.40%
2. Campbell, Ohio 9.30%
3. Lincolnwood, Illinois 7.60%
4. Plandome Manor, New York 7.50%
5. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 7.20%
6. Allenwood, New Jersey 6.60%
7. South Barrington, Illinois 6.00%
8. Palos Hills, Illinois 5.40%
9. Nahant, Massachusetts 5.30%
10. Alpine, New Jersey; Holiday, Florida; and Munsey Park, New York 5.20%
11. East Marion, New York 5.00%
12. Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan and Grosse Pointe Township, Michigan; Palos Park, Illinois; and Upper Brookville, New York 4.90%
13. Harbor Isle, New York 4.70%
14. Lake Dalecarlia, Indiana 4.50%
15. Barnum Island, New York 4.40%
16. Peabody, Massachusetts 4.30%
17. Livingston Manor, New York and University Gardens, New York 4.20%
18. Oak Brook, Illinois 4.00%
19. Dracut, Massachusetts 3.90%
20. Harwood Heights, Illinois and Oyster Bay Cove, New York 3.80%
21. Fort Lee, New Jersey; Hiller, Pennsylvania; Ipswich, Massachusetts; Long Grove, Illinois; Oakhurst, New Jersey; and Yorkville, Ohio 3.70%
22. Broomall, Pennsylvania; Garden City South, New York; Norwood Park, Chicago, Illinois (neighborhood); and Plandome, New York 3.60%
23. Flower Hill, New York; Manhasset, New York; Monte Sereno, California; Norridge, Illinois; Palisades Park, New Jersey; Palos Township, IL; and Windham, New York 3.50%
24. Morton Grove, Illinois; Terryville, New York; and Wellington, Utah 3.40%
25. Banks Township, PA (Carbon County, PA); Harmony, Pennsylvania (Beaver County, PA); Plandome Heights, New York; and Watertown, Massachusetts 3.30%
26. Niles, Illinois and Niles Township, Illinois 3.20%
27. Groveland, Massachusetts 3.10%
28. Albertson, New York; Caroline, New York; Graeagle, California; Lynnfield, Massachusetts; Marple Township, Pennsylvania; and Stanhope, New Jersey 3.00%
29. Foster Township, Pennsylvania; Manhasset Hills, New York; West Falmouth, Massachusetts; Winfield, Indiana; and Worth Township, Indiana (Boone County, IN) 2.90%

Dancing in Greek Fustanella at a folk festival in White Springs, Florida

Communities by percentage of those born in Greece

Greektown, Detroit

The U.S. communities with the largest percentage of residents born in Greece are:^[36]

Atlantis newspaper

The Atlantis was the first successful Greek language daily newspaper published in the United States.^[41] The newspaper was founded in 1894 by Solon J. and Demetrius J. Vlasto, descendants of the Greek noble family, Vlasto.^i[›][42] The paper was headed by a member of the Vlasto family until it closed in 1973. Published in New York City, it had a national circulation and influence. Atlantis supported the royalist faction in Greek politics until the mid-1960s. Atlantis editorial themes included naturalization, war relief, Greek-American business interests, and Greek religious unity.^[41]

Front page of the Atlantis Daily newspaper

In popular culture

• Greek American novelist Jeffrey Eugenides won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for his novel Middlesex, about a Greek American family in Detroit.
• The 1970s television-series Arnie ^[43] depicted aspects of Greek American life.
• In 1967, Academy Award-winning film-director Elia Kazan published a novel, The Arrangement: A Novel, about a conflicted Greek American living a double life as an advertising executive and muckraking journalist. Kazan, who died in September 2003, was a Greek American.
• The popular 1970s show Kojak, featured Telly Savalas as Greek American police detective Theo Kojak, and his brother George as detective Stavros. Kojak was originally supposed to be Polish (hence the name), but this was changed to match Savalas' profile.
• The 2002 comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding portrayed the love story of a Greek American woman (portrayed by Greek Canadian Nia Vardalos) and a non-Greek American man (specifically a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant). It also examines the protagonist's troubled love/hate relationship with her cultural heritage and value system. The movie spawned an unsuccessful TV series, My Big Fat Greek Life.
• The Famous Teddy Z was an acclaimed but short-lived TV series about a fictional talent agent named Teddy Zakalakis, portrayed by Jon Cryer.
• The TV series Full House was about a family that included Greek American Uncle Jesse, portrayed by John Stamos. Jesse's Greek dad was also a recurring character.
• The Olympia Cafe was a recurring sketch in the early years of Saturday Night Live. More recently, Tina Fey has often joked about her Greek heritage on the show.
• Tom's Restaurant, a Greek American owned business, has become one of the symbols of urban New York life.
• Elektra Natchios is a Marvel Comics superhero, portrayed by Jennifer Garner in the 2003 movie Daredevil and the 2005 movie Elektra.
• In the 1973 blockbuster The Exorcist, Jason Miller starred as Greek American Father Damien Karras, one of the priests who exorcised young Regan. In one scene, Karras' mother, played by Greek actress Vasiliki Maliaros, is listening to a Greek radio station broadcasting the song Ιστορία μου αμαρτία μου (My Story, My sin) by the late popular Greek singer Rita Sakellariou.
• Several entertainers and other performing artists including Johnny Otis, Kelly Clarkson, Alexander Frey, John Aniston, Jennifer Aniston, Melina Kanakaredes, Zach Galifianakis, Tommy Lee, Demetri Martin, Paul Cavonis, Criss Angel, Elias Koteas, Amy Sedaris, Andy Milonakis and Billy Zane are of Greek descent.
• Writer, performer and radio-commentator David Sedaris satirizes growing up in a Greek American household in Suburban North Carolina in several of his essays.
• Some of the greatest American athletes of all time and sports pioneers, including Pete Sampras, Harry Agganis, Chris Chelios, Dean Karnazes, Alex Karras, Alexi Lalas, Dave Batista, Greg Louganis, Nick Markakis, Kurt Rambis, Tom Pappas and the legendary Jim Londos are of Greek descent.

Greek nationality

Los Angeles Greek Festival

Any person who is ethnically Greek born outside of Greece may become a Greek citizen through naturalization, providing he/she can prove a parent or grandparent was born as a national of Greece. The Greek ancestor's birth certificate and marriage certificate are required, along with the applicant's birth certificate, and the birth certificates of all generations in between until the relation between the applicant and the person with Greek citizenship is proven.

Organizations

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The new National Hellenic Museum

There are hundreds of regional, religious and professional Greek American organizations. Some of the largest and most notable include:

• The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association is the largest community organization of Greek Americans. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1922 to counter the anti-Greek attacks by the Ku Klux Klan during that time period. Its current membership exceeds 18,000.
• The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the religious organization most closely associated with the Greek American community. It was established in 1921, and is under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The church operates the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, the largest Orthodox Christian youth group in the United States.
• The American Hellenic Institute, an advocacy group for Greek Americans, and its lobbying arm, the American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee.
• The Next Generation Initiative, a foundation that works with prominent Greek American leaders and executives to offer educational opportunities such as internships and master classes through a network of more than 5,500 Greek American students and 2,500 professors on 200+ college campuses.
• The Council of Hellenes Abroad is a Greek government sponsored umbrella organization for Greek immigrant organizations worldwide.
• The Hellenic Society Paideia has been promoting Hellenism and Orthodoxy since 1977 by placing Greek and Byzantium classes in high schools and universities, offering study abroad programs to Greece year round, and with various building projects throughout the country. Anywhere from 200-500 students travel to Greece with Paideia per year. Information specifically for the study abroad programs can be found at www.hellenicstudiespaideia.org Currently "Paideia" is constructing a Classical Greek Amphitheater at the University of Connecticut and a Center for Hellenic Studies at the University of Rhode Island.^[44]
• The National Hellenic Student Association (NHSA) ^[45] is the independent network of the Hellenic Student Associations (HSAs) across the United States. By linking all the Greek, Greek-American and Cypriot students of the American educational institutions, the organization can promote ideas and projects and enrich the Hellenic spirit on campuses nationwide.
• Many topika somatea or clubs representing the local regional homeland of Greeks in America. Among the scores of such clubs, larger "umbrella" organizations include the Pan Macedonian Association (one example is the Drosopigi Society, in Rochester, New York, hailing from the village of Drosopigi in Northern Greece outside of the city of Florina) the Panepirotic Federation, the Pan Cretan Association, the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood, the Pan Pontian Federation of U.S.A-Canada, the Chios Societies of America & Canada, the Cyprus Federation of America, the Pan-Laconian Federation of the USA & Canada, the Pan-Messinian Federation of the USA & Canada, the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America and several associations of refugees from areas in the former Ottoman territories.
• The National Hellenic Museum

See also

• List of Greek-Americans
• Greeks in Omaha, Nebraska
• Greeks
• Greek diaspora
• Diaspora politics in the United States
• European Americans
• Grecian Echoes
• Greek Cypriots
• Greek Festival
• Greektown
• Hyphenated American
• Greek Canadians
• Greek British
• Greek Australians
• Greeks in New Zealand
• Greek-American cuisine

References

External links

Embassy and Consulates

• Embassy
• General Consulate Los Angeles

Charitable organizations

• AHEPA home page - American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
• The Hellenic Society "Paideia"
• Greek America Foundation
• National Hellenic Society
• Onassis Foundation (USA)
• Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund

Libraries and museums

• National Hellenic Museum
• Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection at California State University, Sacramento
• Basil J. Vlavianos manuscript collection at California State University, Sacramento
• The Museum Of Greek Culture at the The New England Carousel Museum constructed by The Hellenic Society Paideia housing a Macedonia exhibit.

Trade organizations

• Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce
• Greek-American Chamber of Commerce

Affiliate trade organizations

• Hellenic Canadian Board of Trade
• Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association
• Hellenic-Argentine Chamber of Industry and Commerce (C.I.C.H.A.)

Websites

• Famous Greek-Americans - A comprehensive list of famous Greeks and Greek Americans.

Media

• KUED - Tribute to Utah's Greek-Americans

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