From The Peopling of New York City

INTRODUCTION

Poles numbered among the earliest colonists in the New World and today, as their numbers exceed ten million, they represent the largest of the Slavic groups in America. Though claims have been made for Poles sailing with Viking ships exploring the New World before 1600, there is no hard evidence to support them. By 1609, however, Polish immigrants do appear in the annals of Jamestown, having been recruited by the colony as skilled craftsmen to create products for export. These immigrants were integral in the establishment of both the glassmaking and woodworking industries in the new colonies. An early Polish explorer, Anthony Sadowski, set up a trading post along the Mississippi River which later became the city of Sandusky, Ohio. Two other names of note occur in the early history of what would become the American republic: Polonia as the ethnic community is referred to is celebrated by annual marches on October 11, Pulaski Day.

Contents 1 History 2 Class 3 Culture 4 The Bigger Picture

History

• A History of Polish Immigration to New York
• Polish Civic Organizations

Class

• Residential Patterns of Polish Immigrants to New York
• Occupational Patterns of Polish Immigrants to New York
• Educational Patterns of Polish Immigrants to New York
• Income of New York's Polish Immigrants
• Health of New York's Polish Immigrants

Culture

• Polish Immigrant Family Structures
• Religious Practices of Polish Immigrants
• Polish Immigrants and Language
• Polish Immigrant Entertainment
• Polish Immigrants and Assimilation

The Bigger Picture

• Polish Immigrants and National and Global Events
• Polish Immigrants and Crime
• Polish Immigrants and Politics
• The Cultural Contributions of Polish Immigrants

Much of the information contained in this site came from: http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Polish-Americans.html