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Swiss Americans

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Swiss American
Schweizamerikaner
Svizzero-americani
Helvético-Américains




Ben Roethlisberger, Herbert Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover, Michelle Pfeiffer, Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, Steve Jobs, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Sutter, Jim Caviezel
Regions with significant populations
Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, New York, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Appalachia and Georgia
Languages
American English, German (especially Swiss German), French, Italian, Romansch
Religion
Christianity (including Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, United Church of Christ, Reformed Church) other religions (including Unitarian Universalists[1])
Related ethnic groups
Swiss people, Swiss Brazilian, Swiss Chilean, German Americans, German diaspora

Swiss Americans are Americans of Swiss descent, including those whose ancestors spoke Swiss German, Swiss French, Swiss Italian, and Romansh.

History

Swiss emigrants to the USA totaled 104,000 according to the 1890 census.

The first Swiss person in what is now known as the territory of the United States was Theobald (Diebold) von Erlach (1541–1565).[3] The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann, a native of Erlenbach im Simmental.

The late 18th and early 19th century saw a flow of Swiss farmers forming colonies especially in Russia and in the United States.

Before the year 1820 some estimated 25,000 to 30,000 Swiss entered British North America. Most of them settled in regions of today's Pennsylvania as well as North and South Carolina. In the next years until 1860 about as many Swiss arrived, making their homes mainly in the Midwestern states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. 50,000 came between 1860 and 1880, some 82,000 between 1881 and 1890, and estimated 90,000 more during the next three decades.

In spite of Swiss settlements like Highland (Illinois), New Glarus (Wisconsin), Gruetli (Tennessee) and Bernstadt (Kentucky) were emerging fast, most Swiss preferred rural villages of the Midwest and the Pacific Coast where especially the Italian Swiss were taking part in California's winegrowing culture, or then took up residence in more industrial and urban regions such as New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis or San Francisco. As the lifestyle and political institutions of the United States were compliant with those of their homeland most Swiss had no problems starting a new life in their part of the New World and became attached to both countries.[4]

Along with the Swiss Immigrants came their traditions. By the late 1800s sufficient numbers of Swiss had arrived that Swiss Vereins (Clubs) were established to provide camaraderie and sharing of customs and traditions of the Heimat (Homeland). The William Tell Verein of Oakland and the Helvetia Verein of Sacramento, founded in the 1890s, were examples of clubs formed during this period. Much later, the West Coast Swiss Wrestling Association was established to preserve the Swiss tradition of Schwingen (Swiss wrestling) on the Pacific coast of the United States.

Of Swiss immigrant involvement in the Civil War, David Vogelsanger writes, "More Swiss participated in the American Civil War than in any other foreign conflict except the Battle of Marignano in 1515 and Napoleon's Russian Campaign of 1812."[5]

Swiss immigration diminished after 1930 because of the Great Depression and World War II. 23,700 Swiss arrived until 1960, 29,100 more between 1961 and 1990. Many of them being professionals or employees in American branches of Swiss companies, returned after some time to Switzerland.[6]

Population

Distribution of Swiss Americans according to the 2000 Census

Swiss Americans by numbers

According to the 2000 United States Census,[7] the 15 cities with the largest populations of Swiss Americans are as follows:

  1. New York, New York - 8,108
  2. Los Angeles, California - 6,169
  3. San Diego, California - 4,349
  4. Portland, Oregon - 4,102
  5. Madison, Wisconsin - 3,898
  6. Phoenix, Arizona - 3,460
  7. Seattle, Washington - 3,446
  8. San Francisco, California - 3,381
  9. Chicago, Illinois - 3,008
  10. San Jose, California - 2,661
  11. Columbus, Ohio - 2,640
  12. Monroe, Wisconsin - 2,582
  13. Houston, Texas - 2,226
  14. Dallas, Texas-1,865
  15. Salt Lake City, Utah - 2,105
  16. Indianapolis, Indiana - 1,939

According to the 2007 American Community Survey,[8] the states with the largest populations of Swiss Americans are as follows:

  1. California - 117,700
  2. Ohio - 86,147[9]
  3. Pennsylvania - 73,912
  4. Wisconsin - 61,134
  5. Illinois - 42,194
  6. Indiana - 41,540
  7. New York - 40,113
  8. Florida - 39,001
  9. Texas - 37,258
  10. Washington - 36,697
  11. Oregon - 33,234
  12. Utah - 30,606
  13. Missouri - 25,809
  14. Michigan - 25,533
  15. Arizona - 24,485

Swiss Americans by percentage of total population

According to the 2000 United States Census[7] the highest percentage of Swiss Americans in any town, village or other, are the following:

  1. Berne, Indiana - 29.10%
  2. Monticello, Wisconsin - 28.82%
  3. New Glarus, Wisconsin - 28.26%
  4. Monroe, Wisconsin - 18.91%
  5. Pandora, Ohio - 18.90%
  6. Argyle, Wisconsin - 17.84%
  7. Sugarcreek, Ohio - 17.29%
  8. Elgin, Iowa - 15.79%
  9. Monroe, Indiana - 14.35%
  10. Baltic, Ohio - 12.91%
  11. Brickerville, Pennsylvania - 11.52%
  12. Albany, Wisconsin - 11.51%
  13. Belleville, Wisconsin - 11.25%
  14. Blanchardville, Wisconsin - 11.21%
  15. Shipshewana, Indiana - 10.89%

only cities, towns and villages with at least 500 people included

According to the 2000 United States Census[7] the states with the highest percentage of people of Swiss ancestry are the following:

  1. Utah - 1.28%
  2. Wisconsin - 0.91%
  3. Idaho - 0.87%
  4. Oregon - 0.76%
  5. Indiana - 0.64%

Communities settled by Swiss immigrants

Notable Swiss Americans

Main article: List of Swiss Americans

Swiss American historical societies

See also

References

  1. ^ The A to Z of Unitarian Universalism - 139, Mark W. Harris - 2009
  2. ^ 2008 Community Survey
  3. ^ "Swiss Americans - History, Modern era, Swiss in british north america". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  4. ^ [1] "History of Swiss Settlers"
  5. ^ Vogelsanger, David. "Foreword: A Forgotten Chapter of Our Military History." Swiss American Historical Society Review 51, no. 2 (2015): 5-8. The whole issue is dedicated to the Swiss in the Civil War.
  6. ^ [2] "immigration since 1930"
  7. ^ a b c Laura Yax, WSCS, ASD. "Census 2000 Gateway". Retrieved 17 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ [3] "2007 American Community Survey by State"
  9. ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "American FactFinder - Results". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  10. ^ http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=12388 "John A. Sutter Jr. Founder and Planner of City of Sacramento ... Was born in Switzerland, October 25, 1826. He was the son of John A. Sutter..."
  11. ^ Bouquet and Pennsylvania "Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission"
  12. ^ "An American of 10 Generations". New York Times. 1907-05-12.
  13. ^ a b Swiss Roots: Renee Zellweger
  14. ^ Swiss Roots: Herbert Hoover
  15. ^ Swiss Roots: Jewel Kilcher
  16. ^ [4] "His father had mainly Swiss and British roots."
  17. ^ "Built For Designers & Developers". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  18. ^ [5] "Swiss Roots: How much do you know about your Swiss heritage? Ben Roethlisberger: Honestly, I didn't know a whole lot until recently; then I started feeling it out a little more and hearing a little more about it. Now, when people ask me where I'm from, I'm quick to say, "Well, I'm Swiss." I'm sure I have a lot of things in me, but that's one of the things I tell people—that I'm Swiss."
  19. ^ ""Held vom Hudson" stammt aus Wynigen" (in German). Berner Zeitung. 2008-01-20. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  20. ^ [6] "Born Willi Wyler ... to a Swiss father and a German mother"
  21. ^ http://www.beech-islandhistory.org/history.htm
  22. ^ "Swiss Historical Society". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  23. ^ "Highland Historical Society". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  24. ^ "OGSGS Main". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  25. ^ http://www.santaclarautahhistoricalsociety.com
  26. ^ "Swiss American Historical Society". Swiss American Historical Society. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Willkommen". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  28. ^ http://www.swissmennonite.org

Articles about the Swiss in the United States

  • Mennonite Historical Collections Very extensive Collection of Swiss and Swiss-American Mennonite information hosted in the Archives and Special Collections Librarian at Musselman Library, Bluffton University.
  • Swiss Settlers in SW Illinois -- searchable English translations of 19th-century works by Swiss settlers.
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