1870 Census Map of Foreign Parentage

[John Hartwell]

This map from the Statistical Atlas of the United States, based on the 1870 Census (published 1874), graphically illustrates, I think, the huge disparity in immigrant populations between the North and South. The count is of persons per square mile with at least one immigrant parent.

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[Pat Young]

Immigrants simply avoided the South. Slavery was incompatible with the free labor economy that encouraged immigrants to come to the U.S. in the first place.

 

[Drew]

Immigrants simply avoided the South. Slavery was incompatible with the free labor economy that encouraged immigrants to come to the U.S. in the first place.

I had understood that before the Civil War, New Orleans was the second largest entry point for immigrants, after New York. Many went up the Mississippi River looking for better paying work than they could find there, but that's not the same thing as saying "immigrants simply avoided the South." I think they were in some way a part of the South's story and that should be told.

 

[Pat Young]

I had understood that before the Civil War, New Orleans was the second largest entry point for immigrants, after New York. Many went up the Mississippi River looking for better paying work than they could find there, but that's not the same thing as saying "immigrants simply avoided the South." I think they were in some way a part of the South's story and that should be told.

I should clarify, they avoided living there.

 

[ole]

Wow! Had read that the South discouraged immigration, but had no idea that it was so apparent. Thanks for the post, John.

 

[Drew]

I should clarify, they avoided living there.

Pat, am I misinformed, that the Port of New Orleans was the largest point of entry to the U.S. for immigrants, after New York, before the Civil War? That they may have scurried up the Mississippi looking for work we'll understand, but is this true?

 

[John Winn]

Wow, that's ... well ... graphic. I find it interesting how the Ohio river is such a clean dividing line (with the exception of south of Cincinnati and around Louisville). Certainly makes it clear that my great grandmother in Charleston was a minority (one English and one German parent).

Thanks for posting that; quite interesting.

 

[ole]

Pat, am I misinformed, that the Port of New Orleans was the largest point of entry to the U.S. for immigrants, after New York, before the Civil War? That they may have scurried up the Mississippi looking for work we'll understand, but is this true?

Yes. Most immigrants came through Northern ports.

 

[Drew]

Yes. Most immigrants came through Northern ports.

This is not in doubt, but, New Orleans as the second largest port of entry for immigrants after New York?

 

[Pat Young]

Pat, am I misinformed, that the Port of New Orleans was the largest point of entry to the U.S. for immigrants, after New York, before the Civil War? That they may have scurried up the Mississippi looking for work we'll understand, but is this true?

Hmm, the first thing to understand is that during the Century of Migration 1820-1920 in most years NY got ten times as many arrivals as any other city, so Number 2 was pretty far behind.

Number 2 was typically Boston in most years before the war. Baltimore, New Orleans, and Philly were in second place some years.

 

[Pat Young]

By the way, a lot of those arriving in Boston quickly moved on to the growing textile cities in Mass., Ct., and R.I.

 

[Pat Young]

Those arriving in Baltimore were often not settling in Maryland. They often went there to take the B&O into the Midwest. Germans headed for Cinncinnatti often arrived in Baltimore.

 

[Pat Young]

The most famous New Orleans arrival was Pat Cleburne who travelled upriver to Ohio.

 

[Drew]

Hmm, the first thing to understand is that during the Century of Migration 1820-1920 in most years NY got ten times as many arrivals as any other city, so Number 2 was pretty far behind.

Number 2 was typically Boston in most years before the war. Baltimore, New Orleans, and Philly were in second place some years.

Pat, I hope you realize how much I appreciate you and the perspective you've brought to this entire discussion for as long as you have.

But, this is not an answer to my question. I'm going to have to dig on immigration into New Orleans and I'll post what I can find. Cheers.

 

[Pat Young]

New Orleans had a larger percentage of foreign born than Boston in 1860:
Cities with largest immigrant populations in 1860
New York City- 47%
Philadelphia- 30%
Boston- 36%
New Orleans- 38%
Cincinnati- 46%
St. Louis- 50%
Chicago- 50%
San Francisco- 50%
Milwaukee- 53%

 

[Pat Young]

Pat, I hope you realize how much I appreciate you and the perspective you've brought to this entire discussion for as long as you have.

But, this is not an answer to my question. I'm going to have to dig on immigration into New Orleans and I'll post what I can find. Cheers.

Look forward to seeing what you find.

 

[rbasin]

This is not in doubt, but, New Orleans as the second largest port of entry for immigrants after New York?

Never heard New Orleans, but perhaps that makes some sense. Could have come through the British West Indies.

I know a sizeable number arrived in Eastern Canada, especially from the UK. Canada, being part of the Empire, was much easier for Brits, Scots, and Irish.

 

[Pat Young]

Never heard New Orleans, but perhaps that makes some sense. Could have come through the British West Indies.

I know a sizeable number arrived in Eastern Canada, especially from the UK. Canada, being part of the Empire, was much easier for Brits, Scots, and Irish.

There were subsidized fares to Canada. Many Irish went to the Maritimes and then quickly moved down to New England.

 

[rbasin]

There were subsidized fares to Canada. Many Irish went to the Maritimes and then quickly moved down to New England.

That's what my ancestors did. That's how I showed up in Erie and Niagara Counties

 

[John Hartwell]

"Over 710,000 immigrants came through New Orleans between 1820 and 1920, the vast majority arriving prior to 1860, and during some of those years the numbers exceeded Boston, Philadelphia, and even Baltimore. However, the Civil War brought an abrupt end to New Orleans's heyday as a port of immigration, and while it was reopened to immigrants after the war, it never regained its position among the major ports." according to http://ancestrylibrary.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4763/~/beyond-new-york:-other-u.s.-ports-of-entry
I haven't been able to locate strictly antebellum numbers, but that same website, for the period 1820-1920, gives Immigrants to New York: 24 million
Boston: 2 million
Baltimore: 1.5 million
Philadelphia: 1.2 million
New Orleans: 710,000
Boston was a major point of entry both pre- and postwar. Most of Philadelphia's immigrants were pre-1850. Most of New Orleans' immigrants went up the Mississippi to the Midwest; most of Baltimore's went west along the railroads and canals to the same destinations.
Make of all that what you will.