Croatians in the United States

There are estimated to be more than 1.2 million Croatians, including their descendants, living in the United States. 

Mass immigration began in the late 19th century, with an estimated 500,000 Croats arriving between 1890 and World War I, many seeking work in industry and mining.

Earlier settlers had reached the Mississippi delta, the Pacific coast and New York.

Today, Croatian Americans are concentrated in the Midwest and Northeast.

The largest communities are in Chicago (around 150,000), the New York–New Jersey–Connecticut area (around 80,000), St. Louis (around 40,000), San Pedro, California (around 35,000), Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois. Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois have the highest state percentages of Croatian ancestry.

Croatian Americans have contributed significantly to American industry, labour movements, the military (with at least ten Medal of Honor recipients) and professional fields.

They maintain strong cultural organisations, Catholic parishes and fraternal societies such as the Croatian Fraternal Union.

The community continues to play an important role in strengthening Croatia–United States relations.