The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-13
Statistics of Foreign Parentage.

Statistics of Foreign Parentage.
The recently issued extra census bull
letin showing the number of persons
in this country who are of foreign par
entage supplies useful information.
Prior to the census of 1870, no effort
was made to ascertain the respective
percentages of native and foreign-born
residents. In that enumeration it was
discovered that the whole number of
persons Of foreign parentage here was
1O,S92, ,0l5 constituting 2S.25 per cent of
the total population at that time. The
number of persons in this country then
who had been born in other lands was
5,567,229 Additional facts of interest
CLEANED from this bulletin follows In
1880, out of population of 5O,155,7SS,
there were 14,922744, or 29,75 per cent.
who had either one or both parents
born in foreign countries. The num-
ber of foreign-born persons of for
eign parentage was approximately
6646, ,G91. In 1890 the total population
was 62, ,622,2j0. The number of foreign
white persons of foreign parentage was
9,015, ,9GS. The total number of persons
Of foreign parentage, without regard to
color, was 2O,676O46, or 1892 per cent.
In the North Atlantic states in 1890, the
number of white persons of foreign par
entage constituted 47.10 per cent. of the
population. In the North Central states
25.0S per cent. of the total population
consisted of white persons of foreign
parentage In the Western states the
same class constituted 45.27 per cent. of
the total population. In the South At
lantic and South Central states, with
the exception of Florida, there was an
excess of native white persons Of for
eign birth as compared with the num-
Der of foreign white persons of foreign
parentage
In New York city and in Chicago
practically four-fifths of the total popu-
lation in 1890 were of foreign parentage,
the exact percentages being SO.46 for
New York and 1890 for Chicago. OF
the other cities having a population of
100000 or more, the percentages were
565S for Philadelphia, 71.O4 for Brook
lyn, 6746 for st. Louis, 67,96 for Boston,
and 4l.67 for Baltimore. OF all the
cities considered the largest percentage
was found in Milwaukee, Wis, where
S6,36 per cent. of its population in 1890
was of foreign parentage. The next
largest percentages were found in Holy
yoke and Fall River, in Massachusetts,
where 80. 9Sper cent. and S2.71 per cent,
respectively, were of foreign parentage.
Lawrence, in the same state, had also
1888 per cent. Of foreign parentage.
Hoboken, in New Jersey, had S1.46 per
cent. of its population of foreign par
entage, and Long Island city, in New
York, S0.62 per cent. or practically the
same as for New York city. Other
cities which had at least 70 per cent. of
their population of foreign parentage
in 1890 Were San Francisco, in CalifOr-
mia, with rs, per cent; Detroit and Bay
City, in Michigan, with 77.17 per cent
and 1920 per cent, respectively; Buff
alo, in New York, with 77.11 per cent;
Scranton with 1923 per cent; Duluth
and St. Paul, in Minnesota, with 1921
per cent. and 75.14 per cent, respective
ly, and Cleveland, in Ohio, with 74.9S
per cent.
The important fact in this connec-
ton is to properly train this second
generation Of newcomers so as to fit 1t
for American citizenship. The fact, for
example, that somewhat more than
of the entire population
Of Scranton are only one generation
removed from necessarily different old
world conditions makes doubly urgent
the upbulding of strong sentiment of
patriotism, perhaps even more manifest
and emphatic than would be requisite
were our citizens long grounded in
traditions. The Tribune
takes no stock in proscriptive orders
or agencies that would excite sectarian
strife. 1t appeals, without bias, to its
readers, native born and naturalized,
to cooperate in the strengthening of
all honest and worthy patriotic in
huences which promise more effectual-
ly to put our friends of foreign parent
age in unison with American conditions
and institutions.