Greek Americans

Greek Americans are Americans who have full or partial Greek ancestry. Many Greek Americans still speak Greek at home.

The United States has the largest number of Greeks living outside of Greece, more than places like Cyprus and Australia. Big groups of Greek Americans live in places such as New York City, Boston, and Chicago. In the year 2000, Tarpon Springs, Florida, had a large number of Greek Americans.

In the New York City area, Astoria, Queens has a lively Greek community with an official spot called Greektown. There are other official Greektowns in Chicago, Detroit, and Tarpon Springs near Tampa. Greek communities can also be found in places like the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and even smaller towns such as Campbell, Ohio. There are also notable Greek groups in Boston, the Salt Lake Valley, and parts of North Carolina, especially around Charlotte and Asheville.

History

Early history

The first Greek person to reach America was Johan Griego, also called John the Greek. He was part of Christopher Columbus’s first voyage in 1492. Other Greeks came later. One Greek sailor, Don Doroteo Teodoro, landed in what is now St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1528 with a group led by Narváez. He helped build rafts but was later captured.

In 1592, a Greek captain named Juan de Fuca sailed along the Pacific coast and told people about a strait that now has his name. There are records of Greeks living in New England as early as 1652 and in Maryland by 1725. About 500 Greeks settled in Florida in 1768 but later moved to St. Augustine, where they built a chapel in 1777.

19th century

During the 1800s, many Greeks came to America, especially after Greece’s war for independence from 1821 to 1830. Some became scholars, activists, or sailors. By 1866, there was a big enough Greek community in New Orleans to build a consulate and the first official Greek Orthodox church in the United States.

Immigration grew again in the 1890s because of opportunities in America and problems back home. Most came from southern Greece. Many worked in cities, on railroads, or in mines. After World War I and big changes in their homelands, many Greeks decided to stay in America permanently.

20th century

In the early 1920s, some Greeks faced unfair treatment, which led to the creation of groups to support the community. After World War II and a civil war in Greece, many more Greeks moved to the United States. They helped build Greek neighborhoods and kept their traditions alive.

21st century

In 2010, some Greeks moved back to areas like Astoria in New York City because of economic problems in Greece. In 2022, a new Greek Orthodox church opened in Lower Manhattan, rebuilding one that was destroyed in the September 11 attacks.

Demographics

Population by state

Population by state according to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey.

1. New York – 170,637
2. California – 134,680
3. Illinois – 99,509
4. Florida – 90,647
5. Massachusetts – 83,701
6. New Jersey – 63,940
7. Pennsylvania – 62,168
8. Ohio – 54,614
9. Texas – 47,622
10. Michigan – 42,711
11. Maryland – 33,733
12. Virginia – 33,062
13. Connecticut – 30,304
14. North Carolina – 26,877
15. Washington – 25,665
16. Indiana – 23,993
17. Arizona – 21,742
18. Colorado – 20,239
19. Georgia – 19,519
20. New Hampshire – 18,434
21. Wisconsin – 16,386
22. Missouri – 15,920
23. Utah – 14,088
24. Oregon – 13,847
25. South Carolina – 13,552
26. Nevada – 11,977
27. Minnesota – 11,782
28. Tennessee – 11,345
29. Alabama – 8,081
30. Rhode Island – 7,485
31. Maine – 7,164
32. Kentucky – 6,887
33. Louisiana – 6,636
34. Iowa – 6,415
35. Kansas – 5,315
36. Oklahoma – 5,261
37. West Virginia – 4,722
38. New Mexico – 4,110
39. Idaho – 3,869
40. Delaware – 3,851
41. Nebraska – 3,840
42. Arkansas – 3,082
43. Montana – 3,062
44. Mississippi – 3,023
45. Vermont – 2,987
46. Hawaii – 2,479
47. District of Columbia – 2,139
48. Alaska – 2,129
49. Wyoming – 1,701
50. South Dakota – 1,180
51. North Dakota – 690

Largest communities

According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 1,249,194 Americans had full or partial Greek ancestry, whom 124,428 were born in Greece.

Top CSAs by Ancestry:

1. New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA: 187,255
2. Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA: 95,594
3. Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA: 89,468
4. Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA CSA: 52,416
5. Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA: 48,597
6. San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA: 40,277
7. Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA: 36,432
8. Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI CSA: 31,547
9. Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL CSA: 23,725

Top CSAs by Country of Birth:

1. New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA: 37,225
2. Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA: 12,070
3. Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA: 10,843
4. Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA CSA: 5,484
5. Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA: 5,016
6. Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA: 5,014
7. San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA: 3,424
8. Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL CSA: 2,711
9. Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI CSA: 2,337

Top MSAs by Ancestry:

1. New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA: 159,180
2. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI: 87,864
3. Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA: 65,041
4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 39,163
5. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 30,728
6. Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA: 28,450
7. Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI: 26,290
8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL: 24,522
9. San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA: 23,266
10. Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL CSA: 20,545

Top MSAs by Country of Birth:

1. New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA: 32,801
2. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI: 12,031
3. Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA: 7,807
4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 4,512
5. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 4,347
6. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL: 3,969
7. Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA: 3,101
8. Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL: 2,602
9. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk-Danbury, CT: 2,302
10. San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA: 2,091
11. Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI: 2,076

Top States by Ancestry:

1. New York: 143,481
2. California: 129,127
3. Illinois: 91,086
4. Florida: 89,658
5. Massachusetts: 76,317
6. New Jersey: 59,665
7. Pennsylvania: 59,477
8. Ohio: 53,057
9. Texas: 48,697
10. Michigan: 44,042

Top States by Country of Birth:

1. New York: 29,017
2. Illinois: 12,031
3. California: 10,742
4. Massachusetts: 9,705
5. Florida: 9,565
6. New Jersey: 8,872
7. Pennsylvania: 5,865
8. Connecticut: 4,074
9. Texas: 3,965
10. Maryland: 3,312

Communities by percentage of people of Greek ancestry

The U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Greek ancestry are:

1. Tarpon Springs, Florida 10.4%
2. Campbell, Ohio 9.30%
3. Lincolnwood, Illinois 7.60%
4. Plandome Manor, New York 7.50%
5. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 7.20%
6. Allenwood, New Jersey 6.60%
7. South Barrington, Illinois 6.00%
8. Palos Hills, Illinois 5.40%
9. Nahant, Massachusetts 5.30%
10. Alpine, New Jersey; Holiday, Florida; and Munsey Park, New York 5.20%
11. East Marion, New York 5.00%
12. Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan and Grosse Pointe Township, Michigan; Palos Park, Illinois; and Upper Brookville, New York 4.90%
13. Harbor Isle, New York 4.70%
14. Lake Dalecarlia, Indiana 4.50%
15. Barnum Island, New York 4.40%
16. Peabody, Massachusetts 4.30%
17. Livingston Manor, New York and University Gardens, New York 4.20%
18. Oak Brook, Illinois 4.00%
19. Dracut, Massachusetts 3.90%
20. Harwood Heights, Illinois and Oyster Bay Cove, New York 3.80%
21. Fort Lee, New Jersey; Hiller, Pennsylvania; Ipswich, Massachusetts; Long Grove, Illinois; Oakhurst, New Jersey; and Yorkville, Ohio 3.70%
22. Broomall, Pennsylvania; Garden City South, New York; Norwood Park, Chicago, Illinois (neighborhood); and Plandome, New York 3.60%
23. Flower Hill, New York; Manhasset, New York; Monte Sereno, California; Norridge, Illinois; Palisades Park, New Jersey; Palos Township, IL; and Windham, New York 3.50%
24. Morton Grove, Illinois; Terryville, New York; and Wellington, Utah 3.40%
25. Banks Township, PA (Carbon County, PA); Harmony, Pennsylvania (Beaver County, PA); Plandome Heights, New York; and Watertown, Massachusetts 3.30%
26. Niles, Illinois and Niles Township, Illinois 3.20%
27. Groveland, Massachusetts 3.10%
28. Albertson, New York; Caroline, New York; Graeagle, California; Lynnfield, Massachusetts; Marple Township, Pennsylvania; and Stanhope, New Jersey 3.00%
29. Foster Township, Pennsylvania; Manhasset Hills, New York; West Falmouth, Massachusetts; Winfield, Indiana; and Worth Township, Indiana (Boone County, IN) 2.90%

Communities by percentage of those born in Greece

The U.S. communities with the largest percentage of residents born in Greece are:^{[citation needed]}

1. Horse Heaven, Washington 3.8%
2. Tarpon Springs, Florida 3.2%
3. Palos Hills, Illinois 3.1%
4. Harbor Isle, New York 3.1%
5. Campbell, Ohio 3.1%
6. Lincolnwood, Illinois 2.7%
7. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 2.5%
8. Bedford Park, Illinois 2.3%
9. Twin Lakes, Florida 2.3%
10. Holiday, Florida 2.1%
11. Great Neck Gardens, New York 2.1%
12. Norridge, Illinois 2.0%
13. Palos Park, Illinois 1.9%
14. Barnum Island, New York 1.9%
15. Munsey Park, New York 1.8%
16. Foxfield, Colorado 1.7%
17. Cedar Glen West, New Jersey 1.7%
18. Raynham Center, Massachusetts 1.6%
19. Broomall, Pennsylvania 1.6%
20. Flower Hill, New York 1.6%
21. Alpine, New Jersey 1.6%
22. Millbourne, Pennsylvania 1.6%
23. Niles, Illinois 1.6%
24. Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan 1.6%
25. East Marion, New York 1.6%
26. West Falmouth, Massachusetts 1.6%
27. Golden Triangle, New Jersey 1.5%
28. Palisades Park, New Jersey 1.5%
29. Garden City South, New York 1.5%
30. Harwood Heights, Illinois 1.5%
31. Watertown, Massachusetts 1.5%
32. Morton Grove, Illinois 1.5%
33. East Ithaca, New York 1.4%
34. Fort Lee, New Jersey 1.4%
35. Saddle Rock, New York 1.4%
36. Oakhurst, New Jersey 1.4%
37. Plandome Manor, New York 1.3%
38. White Lake, North Carolina 1.3%
39. Old Brookville, New York 1.2%
40. Plandome Heights, New York 1.2%
41. South Barrington, Illinois 1.2%
42. North Lakeville, Massachusetts 1.2%
43. Terryville, New York 1.2%
44. Jefferson, West Virginia 1.2%
45. Ridgefield, New Jersey 1.2%
46. East Norwich, New York 1.2%
47. Skokie, Illinois 1.1%
48. Arlington Heights, Pennsylvania 1.1%
49. Pomona, New York 1.1%
50. Spring House, Pennsylvania 1.1%
51. Hickory Hills, Illinois 1.1%
52. Cliffside Park, New Jersey 1.1%
53. Friendship Village, Maryland 1.1%
54. Kingsville, Maryland 1.1%
55. Arlington, Massachusetts 1.1%
56. Mount Prospect, Illinois 1.1%
57. Midland Park, New Jersey 1.0%
58. Lake Dalecarlia, Indiana 1.0%
59. Pinedale, Wyoming 1.0%
60. Glenview, Illinois 1.0%
61. Dunn Loring, Virginia 1.0%
62. West Kennebunk, Maine 1.0%
63. Shokan, New York 1.0%
64. Beacon Square, Florida 1.0%
65. Peabody, Massachusetts 1.0%
66. Dedham, Massachusetts 1.0%
67. North Key Largo, Florida 1.0%
68. Hillside, New York 1.0%
69. Orland Park, Illinois 1.0%
70. Eddystone, Pennsylvania 1.0%
71. South Hempstead, New York 1.0%
72. Redington Beach, Florida 1.0%
73. Hillsmere Shores, Maryland 1.0%

Greek-born population

Greek-born population in the U.S. since 2010 (ACS 1 Tear Estimates):

Print media

The Atlantis was the first successful Greek-language newspaper in the United States. It began in 1894 and was run by the Vlasto family until it closed in 1973. It was based in New York City and talked about important issues for Greek Americans.

Today, Ethnikos Kyrix is the main Greek-language newspaper in the United States. It is also based in New York City and shares news about Greeks living in America and events in Greece and Cyprus. It supports progressive ideas, unlike Atlantis. There is also a weekly paper called The National Herald that shares similar stories but in English. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America publishes Orthodox Observer each month in both Greek and English.

In popular culture

Greek Americans have contributed a lot to popular culture in the United States. Author Jeffrey Eugenides won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for his novel Middlesex. The story is about a Greek American family in Detroit.

The 2002 comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding told the love story of a Greek American woman and a man who was not Greek American. The movie also showed her relationship with her culture. A sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, came out in 2016.

The TV series Full House had a character named Uncle Jesse Katsopolis. He was a Greek American played by actor John Stamos. Stamos also played Jesse in the 2016 sequel show, Fuller House.

Many famous actors, athletes, and entertainers are of Greek descent. Some of them are Telly Savalas, Tina Fey, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Aniston, and Pete Sampras.

Greek nationality

See also: Greek nationality law

People of Greek heritage born outside Greece can become Greek citizens through naturalization. They need to prove that a parent or grandparent was born in Greece. They must show the birth and marriage records of their Greek ancestor, their own birth certificate, and the birth certificates of family members in between to prove their connection.

Organizations

There are many groups for Greek Americans based on where they come from, their religion, or their jobs. Some of the biggest and most well-known groups include:

• The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) is a large group for Greek Americans. It started in Atlanta, Georgia in 1922 and now has many members in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
• The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the main religious group for Greek Americans. It runs the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, a big youth group in the United States.
• The American Hellenic Institute and its American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee support Greek Americans.
• The Next Generation Initiative offers chances like internships to Greek American students and teachers at colleges.
• The Council of Hellenes Abroad is supported by the Greek government for Greek groups around the world.
• The Hellenic Society Paideia promotes Greek culture and religion in schools and colleges. It also offers trips to Greece.
• The National Hellenic Student Association links students with Greek roots at schools across the United States.
• There are also local clubs for people whose families come from specific places in Greece. Some bigger groups include the Pan Macedonian Association, the Panepirotic Federation, and the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood.
• The National Hellenic Museum is located in Greektown, Chicago.

Notable people

Further information: List of Greek Americans

Greek Americans include many famous people who have done important work in many areas. These people often have Greek family roots and have become leaders, artists, or important figures in American life.