Laotian Americans: Difference between revisions
m Robot - Moving category Laotian Americans to American people of Laotian descent per CFD at Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2010 February 17. |
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==History and demographics== |
==History and demographics== |
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{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2008}} |
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2008}} |
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Laotian immigration to the United States was at its height after the [[Vietnam War]]. They began arriving in the U.S. after a Communist government came to power in 1975 and by 1980, the Laotian population of the U.S. reached 47,683, according to census estimates. These numbers increased dramatically during the 1980s, so that the census estimated that there were 147,375 people by 1990, and the group continued to grow, somewhat more slowly, to 167,792 by 2000 <ref> [http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/sociology/upload/Southeast-Asian-Immigrants.pdf Southeast Asia: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand] </ref>. By 2008 the population nearly reached 240,532. |
Laotian immigration to the United States was at its height after the [[Vietnam War]]. They began arriving in the U.S. after a Communist government came to power in 1975 and by 1980, the Laotian population of the U.S. reached 47,683, according to census estimates. These numbers increased dramatically during the 1980s, so that the census estimated that there were 147,375 people by 1990, and the group continued to grow, somewhat more slowly, to 167,792 by 2000 <ref> [http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/sociology/upload/Southeast-Asian-Immigrants.pdf Southeast Asia: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand] </ref>. By 2008 the population nearly reached 240,532. Included are the [[Hmong]], a mountainous tribe from that country with their own ethnic designation: ''Hmong Americans''. |
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Most Laotian Americans live in the states of [[California]], [[Texas]], [[Illinois]], [[Minnesota]], [[Washington]], [[Connecticut]] or [[Rhode Island]]. There are also large communities in [[Ohio]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Iowa]], [[Florida]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Louisiana]]. There are about over 200,000 ethnic Lao in America. 8,000 - 11,000 more Americans are mixed with another ethnic group and Lao. Ethnic Lao would be considered both Lao American and Laotian American. |
Most Laotian Americans live in the states of [[California]], [[Texas]], [[Illinois]], [[Minnesota]], [[Washington]], [[Connecticut]] or [[Rhode Island]]. There are also large communities in [[Ohio]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Iowa]], [[Florida]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Louisiana]]. There are about over 200,000 ethnic Lao in America. 8,000 - 11,000 more Americans are mixed with another ethnic group and Lao. Ethnic Lao would be considered both Lao American and Laotian American. |
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Cities or regions with significant Laotian Americans include the [[Bay Area]] (numbering at about 11,545), the [[Sacramento Metropolitan Area]] (9,814),[[Seattle Metropolitan Area]] (12,190), |
Cities or regions with significant Laotian Americans include the [[San Francisco]] [[Bay Area]] (numbering at about 11,545), the [[Sacramento Metropolitan Area]] (9,814), the [[Seattle Metropolitan Area]] (12,190), [[Minneapolis – Saint Paul]] (18,031), [[Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex|Dallas-Fort Worth]] (10,500), [[San Diego]] (7,002), [[Fresno]] (6,381), [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] (6,291) and the [[Los Angeles]] area (est. at 5,000-8,000). Smaller Laotian communities can be found around [[Anchorage, Alaska]], [[Houston, Texas]], [[Lafayette, Louisiana]], [[Philadelphia]] and southeastern [[Washington]] state. The population of Laotian Americans in The Pacific Northwest is roughly 30,000. |
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The vast majority were estimated to live in the West (95,574), followed by the South (44,471), Midwest (37,820), and Northeast (15,382). |
The vast majority were estimated to live in the West (95,574), followed by the South (44,471), Midwest (37,820), and Northeast (15,382). |
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Revision as of 07:10, 16 March 2010
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| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| California, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon,Washington, Minnesota, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Florida. | |
| Languages | |
| Lao, English, Isan, Thai | |
| Religion | |
 Theravada Buddhism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Lao people, Asian Americans,Laotian Chinese American,Thai American,Laotians in France,Canadians of Laotian descent |
A Laotian American is a resident of the United States who was originally from Laos,people of Laotian descent residing in America,and whose parents were originally from Laos. They constitute one group of Asian Americans.Most were refugees who escaped Laos during the 1970's from the Communist Regime and entered refugee camps across the Mekong River to Thailand.
Although many Hmong people are from Laos, Hmong Americans are usually not considered to be Lao American because they are not of the Lao ethnic group.
However, the category of Laotian American includes the Hmong and other Laotian groups, as well as Ethnic Chinese, Ethnic Vietnamese, and white Laotians of French blood from Laos.
History and demographics
|
Laotian immigration to the United States was at its height after the Vietnam War. They began arriving in the U.S. after a Communist government came to power in 1975 and by 1980, the Laotian population of the U.S. reached 47,683, according to census estimates. These numbers increased dramatically during the 1980s, so that the census estimated that there were 147,375 people by 1990, and the group continued to grow, somewhat more slowly, to 167,792 by 2000 [3]. By 2008 the population nearly reached 240,532. Included are the Hmong, a mountainous tribe from that country with their own ethnic designation: Hmong Americans.
Most Laotian Americans live in the states of California, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Connecticut or Rhode Island. There are also large communities in Ohio, Oklahoma, Iowa, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. There are about over 200,000 ethnic Lao in America. 8,000 - 11,000 more Americans are mixed with another ethnic group and Lao. Ethnic Lao would be considered both Lao American and Laotian American.
Cities or regions with significant Laotian Americans include the San Francisco Bay Area (numbering at about 11,545), the Sacramento Metropolitan Area (9,814), the Seattle Metropolitan Area (12,190), Minneapolis – Saint Paul (18,031), Dallas-Fort Worth (10,500), San Diego (7,002), Fresno (6,381), Providence (6,291) and the Los Angeles area (est. at 5,000-8,000). Smaller Laotian communities can be found around Anchorage, Alaska, Houston, Texas, Lafayette, Louisiana, Philadelphia and southeastern Washington state. The population of Laotian Americans in The Pacific Northwest is roughly 30,000.
The vast majority were estimated to live in the West (95,574), followed by the South (44,471), Midwest (37,820), and Northeast (15,382).
Theravada Buddhist Temples
Many Cities with a Laotian American population have constructed Buddhist temples called 'Vat' or 'Wat'.Usually they are first start out as a simple house then is customized and added on by donations of the people to a Laotian Buddhist Temple with fine artwork and craftsmanship. Examples of these include Wat Lao Buddhavong located outside of Washington DC, Wat Lao of S. Farmington, Minnesota, Wat Lao Buddhamamakaram of Columbus, Ohio, and Wat Lao Mixayaram and Wat Lao Dhammacetiyaram of Seattle,Washington. As the Laotian communities have been established around the United States, temples have even been constructed in rural areas, such as Lane Xang Village, located between Lafayette and New Iberia in Louisiana [4].
Music
A number of Laotian American musicians have achieved some renown, such as the members of the Royal Lao Orchestra in Tennessee, the traditional singer Khamvong Insixiengmai of Fresno, California, and Hip-Hop artist Khan-X of Iowa.
Media
The first national Laotian American publication, Lao Roots Magazine, was released in 2007. The English language magazine is geared towards the younger generation Laotian American community. Published in San Diego, CA by a small volunteer staff the magazine has reached wide spread national circulation within the Laotian American community. Recently a movie called The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) was directed by Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath. The story about the epic story of a family forced to emigrate from Laos after the chaos of the secret air war waged by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Kuras has spent the last 23 years chronicling the family's extraordinary journey in this deeply personal, poetic, and emotional film. The film also has won a Spectrum Award for the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and is nominated for an Oscar for best documentary.[1]
Actor Brenda Song was a descendant of a Hmong tribe that resided in Laos.
Sports
Some Laotian Americans have become notable in the world of badminton, including Khan Malaythong.
Portrayal in fiction
Perhaps the most famous Laotian American family is not a real one, but rather the animated Souphanousinphone family, found on the television show King of the Hill.
The subject of Jamie Wyeth's masterpiece Kalounna in Frogtown depicts a Laotian American.
See also
References
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