Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1949-10-17
Our Scandinavian Population

our SCdnd1ndv1dn reputation
One of the interesting highlghts the 1850 u S.
will undoubtedly be the disclosure of the number of for
egn born persons this country Particularly interesting
will also be the statistics the Scandinavian population
The Seandinavans very predominant among the for
egn born groups in Washington excluding Canadians who
actually represent mixture of races including many Scan
dinavians
The latest census 1910, reveals that the number of
Washington residents born the Norc countries totals
$685. decrease of "a 431 from $780, when u. S.
whole registered the greatest number of Scandnavians in
this country Corresponding figures to percentage of
the foreign born population in Washington was 1856 and
341 percent thus decrease of only onehalf percent
According to the latest in Washington persons
born in the Nordic countries included 26993 Swedes, &c.
489 Norwegans 5739 Danes, 563 Icelanders and 9199
persons from Finland Corresponding figures for 1880
"a 1854 31429 7175 TAI and LOOP AS to the ratio
of foreign born persons percentage basis in 1910,
headed the list with 1873 percent followed by Nor
wegians 1870, Englishmen so, Germans 49, Firms and
Swede Firms, As, Russians AZ.
The ratio Scandnavians larger in rela
ton remainder of the foreign born population nearly
corresponds with the figure for the state whole that
is either slightly above below the onethird mark.
OF bigger cities the biggest proportion of Scandin
is found in Tacoma where they represent 335
of the foreign born population very large ma jor
ity OF those born in Europe 2,7O1 came from Norway
21S1 from Sweden and APT from Denmark, each repre-
senng H. 1873 and 27 percent respectively of the foreign
total of 296 percent of the foreign born people in Sc
attic hail from Scandinavia This is by far the largest
group OF the other nationality groups sc percent
from England 30 from Germany 81 from Italy Al from
Scotland and 40 percent from Russia There slightly
larger percentage of Norwgans compared to that of
Swedes Seattle and Tacoma but in other cities the sit
uation appears to be reversed.
According to latest figures the Seattle foreign born
population includes S436 Norwegians 1870 Swedes 1514
Danes and LAO persons born in Finland The percentage
of hat fore is
14.2 1873 IS and 20.
In Spokane residents born in Scandinavia represent
the largest percentage figure namely 266 with the Can
adams listed at 1872 percent They include 1875 Norwe
gans 2211 Sweds and 366 Danes with the percentage fig
of S.S, 1873 and 25 respectively
In Grays Harbor County, another Scandinavian popu-
ation center 1856 born in Norway 1O4 in Sweden
and 81 in Denmark. There twice many Swedes as
Norwegans in Hoquam, namely 374 while Swedes have
eked lead Norwegians in Aberdeen with total
of 800 compared to 324. Persons born in Finland
group which includes many from that counrys Swedish
population, total 1730 representing by far the largest
percentage of the foreign groups in the county.
The greatest increase in the number of foreign born
Scandinavans in Washington occurred during the period
1SS0-1890. The number of Norwegans and Swedes dur
ing this period increased from $50 1894 and from 648
to 1922 respectively.
The statistics do not however show how large the Sean
dnavian population in the state really at present
During the last and postwar years quite a
Der of people to the Northwest from Midwest
many of them being Scandnavans, and the mgrations
from Scandinavia steadily progressing although
the scale as in the good old days.