Immigration Information

From the late 19^th Century until the early 20^th century, a large number of Croatians immigrated to the United States due to the economic and political hardships that they faced at home. It is difficult to discern how many Croatians actually entered the US due to the government’s practice of combining all Slavs when compiling statistical information. It is estimated that by 1930, there were approximately five hundred thousand Croatians living in the U.S.

These first immigrants consisted mainly of unskilled, illiterate male workers who came to the US seeking to build their fortunes. Many sent the majority of their earnings home, hoping to improve the lives of those they left behind. A number of these immigrants eventually returned home, bringing new ideas and technologies, such as democracy.

During and after World War II, many Croatians immigrated to the United States, due to the rise of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe. The number of Eastern European immigrants rose dramatically during and after this period thanks in part to the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 and Refugee Escape Act of 1960.

Despite the increased awareness of Croatia on the world stage due to the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s, many Croatians are still labeled as Yugoslavian or Austro-Hungarian. This practice has created a great deal of difficulty in discerning between the various Slavic populations within the United States.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are an estimated 374,241 Croatian-Americans currently residing within the United States. The Croatian-American  population is most densely populated in Pennsylvania, while other areas of significance are California, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana. 

Major Religions and Beliefs

Traditionally Croatians are predominantly Roman Catholic, roughly 87.8% of the population, with the remainder comprising mainly of Orthodox Christians( 4.4%) Muslims(1.3%), other Christians (0.4%) and non-religious individuals constituting 5.2% of the population. There are a number of Croatian parishes in the US, the first of which was formed in 1895 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Yet, the number of Croatian-American churches seems to be on the decline due to the fact that many of today's Croatians are heavily dissatisfied with the clergy and have estranged themselves from the Roman Catholic Church.

History, Traditions and Culture

Food, folk culture and tradition for many Croatian-Americans are intertwined in their daily lives and holiday traditions. Many of the traditional values, customs and holidays have carried over into their American lives, such as St. Nicholas Day, Easter, and Independence Day.

Academic Organizations

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

121 St. Joseph Street, Alumni Hall (AH), Rm. 429

Toronto, Ontario M5S 1J4

t. 416-926-2075

f. 416-926-2076

email: slavic@chass.utoronto.ca