Colombian American

Colombian Americans
Notable Colombian Americans: George Zamka • Soraya • Luis Alberto Moreno • Scott Gomez • George Hincapie
Total population
730,510 0.66% of the US population [1]
Regions with significant populations
South Florida (Doral, Kendall, Weston and Hialeah) New York, New York (Queens and Jackson Heights, Queens) New Jersey (North Jersey), and Washington DC area California (Los Angeles)
Languages
American English, Spanish, Colombian 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

Colombian Americans are citizens of the United States who trace their nationality or heritage from the South American nation of Colombia.

[edit] Causes of migration

Economic problems and violence have led to an emigration of Colombians to the U.S., particularly South Florida (especially in the suburbs of Miami, Florida such as Doral, Kendall, and Hialeah, and the Weston suburb of Fort Lauderdale), New Jersey (North Jersey), Queens County in New York City, the Washington DC metro area, eastern Long Island, and a small but significant community in California, mainly in the Los Angeles area. Jackson Heights in Queens County was heavily Colombian during the 80's, but other immigrant groups have settled in the area, mostly Mexicans. Colombians are among the largest South American immigrant groups to the U.S. Like other South American immigrants and unlike Central American and Caribbean Latino immigrants, Colombians tend to come from urban areas.

[edit] Settlements in the United States

The largest Colombian community lives in the South Florida area (Doral, Kendall, Weston, and Hialeah) with a population of 138,768.^[2][3]

[edit] The top 25 US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Colombian ancestry

The top 25 US 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%

[edit] U.S. communities with the most residents born in Colombia

Top 101 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%
26. Miami Beach, FL 5.9%
27. Surfside, FL 5.9%
28. North Westside, FL 5.8%
29. Fountainbleau, FL 5.8%
30. Country Walk, FL 5.6%
31. Three Lakes, FL 5.2%
32. Meadow Woods, FL 5.0%
33. Aventura, FL 4.8%
34. Canaan, CT 4.8%
35. Ojus, FL 4.7%
36. Miami Lakes, FL 4.7%
37. Richmond West, FL 4.7%
38. Hackensack, NJ 4.4%
39. Tamiami, FL 4.3%
40. Oakwood, GA 4.3%
41. Union City, NJ 4.3%
42. Prospect Park, NJ 4.1%
43. Guttenberg, NJ 4.1%
44. Miami Gardens, FL (Broward County) 3.9%
45. Hialeah, FL 3.8%
46. Pawtucket, RI 3.8%
47. Miami Springs, FL 3.8%
48. Lodi, NJ 3.8%
49. Utopia, FL3.7%
50. North Plainfield, NJ 3.7%
51. West Miami, FL 3.6%
52. Glenvar Heights, FL 3.6%
53. Yeehaw Junction, FL 3.6%
54. Quantico, VA 3.6%
55. Sky Lake, FL 3.6%
56. University Park, FL 3.6%
57. Bergenfield, NJ 3.6%
58. Ridgefield Park, NJ 3.5%
59. Lakes by the Bay, FL 3.5%
60. Paterson, NJ 3.4%
61. Bay Harbor Islands, FL 3.4%
62. Village Park, FL 3.3%
63. Bonnie Lock-Woodsetter North, FL 3.3%
64. Fairview, NJ 3.3%
65. Golden Beach, FL 3.2%
66. Kendall-Perrine, FL 3.2%
67. Brentwood, NY 3.1%
68. Sunset, FL 3.1%
69. Ellenville, NY 3.1%
70. White Plains, NY 3.1%
71. Palm Springs, FL 3.1%
72. North Miami Beach, FL 3.0%
73. Queens, NY 3.0%
74. North Lauderdale, FL 2.9%
75. Norwalk, CT 2.9%
76. Tamarac, FL 2.9%
77. Oak Ridge, FL 2.8%
78. Ramblewood East, FL 2.8%
79. Harbor Hills, NY 2.8%
80. Port Chester, NY 2.8%
81. Little Ferry, NJ 2.8%
82. Monticello, NY 2.8%
83. Hollywood, FL 2.8%
84. Sunrise, FL 2.8%
85. Pembroke Pines, FL 2.7%
86. Miramar, FL 2.6%
87. Pine Island Ridge, FL 2.6%
88. Naples Park, FL 2.6%
89. Berea, SC 2.6%
90. North Andrews Gardens, FL 2.6%
91. South Westside, FL 2.5%
92. Ives Estates, FL 2.5%
93. Egypt Lake-Leto, FL 2.5%
94. Sweetwater, FL 2.5%
95. Greenport, NY 2.4%
96. Elmsford, NY 2.4%
97. Hill Country Village, TX 2.4%
98. Palm Shores, FL 2.4%
99. Sandalfoot Cove, FL 2.4%
100. Plantation, FL 2.4%
101. Moonachie, NJ 2.4%

[edit] Ethnic composition of Colombians in the United States

See also: Demographics of Colombia

Ethnically, Colombians are a diverse population including Colombians of Indigenous descent, Afro-Colombians, Colombians of European descent (mainly Spanish ancestry). However, most Colombians are a mix of the three ethnicities. In addition, a significant percentage of Colombians of Middle Eastern descent, notably Syrian and Lebanese, also compose Colombian society.

[edit] Cultural traditions in the United States

The main musical interests are vallenato, salsa and cumbia. The vast majority of Colombians are Roman Catholic; younger Colombians are significantly more secular than the older generation.^{[citation needed]} Colombian food is highly varied. Popular dishes are bandeja paisa, sancocho (stew), empanadas (meat-filled turnovers), pandebono (a type of cheese-bread), and arepa (corncake). Colombian food is popular and well-known in Queens County. The main pastime of Colombians in the United States is soccer, Colombian Americans raised in the United States will continue to follow soccer. Like most immigrants raised in the United Sates some children will seek american sports. Another popular pastime, especially among the older generation, is parqués.

[edit] See also

• Afro-Colombian
• Colombian diaspora

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• everyculture.com Colombian Americans

v • d • e Colombian people Colombians in Colombia • Colombians in the USA • Colombians in the UK • Colombians in Australia • Other Colombian diasporas • Afro-Colombians • Famous Colombians