Colombian Americans

Most Colombians who arrived after the mid-1960s wanted to stay in the United States for a specific time period. Therefore, the number of undocumented Colombian immigrants increased: from 250,000 to 350,000 people in the mid 1970s. Despite the promulgation of many laws against the immigration, the number of Colombians that emigrated to the United States did not stop growing. Most of them emigrated to New York. Smaller communities formed in Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. and in the 1970s, North Side, Chicago.[4]

Since the 1980s, many Colombians have emigrated to Miami (especially in its suburbs, such as Doral, Kendall, and Hialeah, and the Weston suburb of Fort Lauderdale). The first Colombians emigrated to the city lived in Little Havana, from where they established commercial relations between Miami and Latin America. The area also attracted wealthy Colombians, who settled there for reasons as diverse as educational, medical or economics.[4]

By the early 1990s, many Colombians left the metropolitan centers and settled in the suburbs to escape crime and high product prices in the city. This trend was probably started for the first time in the coastal towns of Connecticut and New York. Colombian communities grew significantly in places such as Stamford, Connecticut, Bergenline and Englewood, New Jersey, Jacksonville, Florida (which attracted a growing number of people from Miami), and Skokie, Evanston, Arlington Heights and Park Ridge, Illinois. Despite the migration to other areas, the largest communities remained in New York City, Miami, and their environs.[4]

In 1990 and 1991, 43,891 Colombians legally emigrated to the United States, surpassing immigrants from the rest of Latin America. They were for the first time the most populous group of undocumented immigrants in the US from Latin America, excluding Mexico. Between 1992 and 1997, the intensity of the conflict in Colombia increased, so nearly 75,000 Colombians immigrated to the United States in this period, many of them going to California.[4]

Flag of Colombia

Flag of the United States

In Miville's "Colombians in the United States: History, Values, and Challenges," the nature of Colombian migration is described. He writes,"Colombian migration patterns have been distinguished by scholars as three distinct waves involving diverse demographic groups, reasons for migrating, and contextual factors with a mixture of push and pull factors from both the originating and host countries (Madrigal, 2013; Migration Policy Institute, 2015). Immigration to the United States was essentially minor from about 1820 to 1950 when fewer than 7000 Colombians immigrated to the United States. Indeed, the Colombian presence in United States was not recognized officially until 1960, when the U.S. Census began to specify the country of origin for South Americans (Migration Policy Institute, 2015)." Economic problems and violence have led to an emigration of Colombians to the United States, particularly South Florida (especially in the suburbs of Miami, Florida such as Doral, Kendall, and Hialeah, and the Weston suburb of Fort Lauderdale), Central Florida, New Jersey (North Jersey), Queens County in New York City, Philadelphia, the Washington DC metro area, eastern Long Island, and an expanding community in California, Texas and Georgia, mainly in the Los Angeles, Houston and Atlanta areas.[4]

First Wave: After of World War I, many Colombians immigrated to United States in order to complete their education there, studying in the universities of the country. Most of them settled in New York. Many Colombians immigrated to the United States in order to complete their education, studying in universities across the country (Madrigal, 2013; Sassen-Koob, 1989)" After the civil war in 1948 and increased poverty in Colombia many Colombians also emigrated to United States during the 1950s. In the 1960s, the economic crisis prompted the emigration of many Colombians to the United States, obtaining U.S. citizenship Between 1960 and 1977.[4]

Second Wave (1965-1989): "The passage of several U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Act’s amendments in 1965 allowed for more Colombians to migrate to the United States (Madrigal, 2013)"

Third Wave (1990-2008): "The 1980s and 1990s brought the rise in cocaine trafficking, along with the influence of the drug cartels and paramilitary groups (Carvajal, 2017; Migration Policy Institute, 2015). From the 1990s, along with the ensuing turmoil over a political assassination in 1989, the number of Colombians admitted to the United States tripled, representing the largest numbers of immigrants from a South American country (Carvajal, 2017; Migration Policy Institute, 2015)" Since the 1980s, many Colombians fled their urban cities to migrate to suburban areas in states like New Jersey and Connecticut, as their socioeconomic status improved. The conflict escalation between terrorists, paramilitaries, and narcos between 1992 and 1997 also boosted the Colombian emigration during this period. As was discussed earlier, about 75,000 Colombians immigrated at that time the United States, concentrating mostly in the state of California.[4]

Ethnically, Colombian Americans are a diverse population including Colombians of European ancestry (mainly Spanish) ancestry, Castizo (1/4 Amerindian/ 3/4 European) and Mestizo (Half Amerindian/European), Afro-Colombians, and Colombians of Indigenous ancestry. In addition, many Colombians of Middle Eastern descent, notably Lebanese Colombians, also compose the Colombian diaspora.

Until 1960, most Colombians emigrating to the United States were white or mestizos. However, between this year and 1977, a period in which more than 186,000 Colombians emigrated to the United States, are becoming more ethnically diverse, representing the ethnic diversity of the population of Colombia. So today, although most Colombian are white and mestizos, there are also numerous Afro Colombians in the Colombian population.[4]

The largest populations of Colombians are situated in the following metropolitan areas (Source: 2018 estimate):[9][14][15]

1. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA-CT MSA – 692,772
2. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL MSA - 618,921
3. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA – 129,636
4. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area - 68,334
5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA – 65,293
6. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA – 60,421
7. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA – 55,952
8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA – 52,565
9. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA – 34,057
10. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI MSA - 27,391
11. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA - 26,198
12. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA MSA - 24,391
13. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA - 21,487
14. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA - 17,563
15. Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA - 16,229

The top 25 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Colombian ancestry are:

1. Victory Gardens, New Jersey 35.7%[16]
2. Dover, New Jersey 33.5%[16]
3. Kendall, Florida 31.5%[16]
4. Doral, Florida 29.7%[16]
5. Elizabeth, New Jersey 28.6% [16]
6. Country Club, Florida 23.7%[16]
7. The Hammocks, Florida 22.5%[16]
8. Weston, Florida 21.7%[16]
9. Central Falls, Rhode Island 20.4%[16]
10. Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 20.3%[16]
11. Montauk, New York 19.5%[16]
12. North Bay Village, Florida 19.3%[16]
13. Key Biscayne, Florida 18.8%[16]
14. Englewood, New Jersey 18.5%[16]
15. Guttenberg, New Jersey 17.2%[16]
16. Morristown, New Jersey 16.9%[16]
17. North Bergen, New Jersey 15.9%[16]
18. Fontainebleau, Florida 15.8%[16]
19. Kendale Lakes, Florida 14.6%[16]
20. Virginia Gardens, Florida 12.2%[16]
21. Richmond West, Florida 11.6%[16]
22. Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 11.5%[16]
23. West New York, New Jersey 10.9%[16]
24. Hialeah Gardens, Florida 10.8%[16]
25. Union City, New Jersey 10.5%[16]

The top 25 U.S. communities with the most residents born in Colombia are:[17]

1. Victory Gardens, NJ 23.2%
2. Dover, NJ 22.5%
3. Kendall, FL 17.3%
4. Elizabeth, NJ 16.5%
5. Country Club, FL 16.4%
6. Kendale Lakes, FL 15.1%
7. Doral, FL 14.3%
8. Ojus, FL 13.8%
9. The Hammocks, FL 12.7%
10. Katonah, NY 12.2%
11. Weston, FL 12.0%
12. Kendall West, FL 11.7%
13. Broadview-Pompano Park, FL 11.6%
14. Guttenburg, NJ 11.5%
15. Fontainebleau, FL 11.1%
16. Fort Devens, MA 10.9%
17. Greenbriar, FL 10.8%
18. South Bound Brook, NJ 10.6%
19. Sunny Isles Beach, FL 10.5%
20. Lakes-Lindgren Acres, FL 10.5%
21. Shinnecock Hills, NY 10.4%
22. Meadow Woods, FL 10.3
23. North Bay Village, FL 10.1%
24. Wabasso, FL 9.9%
25. Aventura, FL 9.8%

Colombian Americans, based on various studies and a survey, about 90% of the population adheres to Christianity, the majority of which (70.9%) are Roman Catholic, while a significant minority (16.7%) adhere to Protestantism (primarily Evangelicalism). Some 4.7% of the population is atheist or agnostic, while 3.5% claim to believe in God but do not follow a specific religion. In addition to the above statistics, 35.9% of Colombian Americans report that they did not practice their faith actively.[18][19][20]

A majority (82%) of Colombian Americans ages 5 and older speak English proficiently. The other 18% who are Colombian Native report speaking English less than very well, compared with 32% of all Hispanics.

In addition, 83% of Colombian ages 5 and older speak Spanish at home.

Musical styles that are enjoyed by Colombian Americans include Vallenato and Cumbia.

The main pastime of Colombians in the United States is soccer, and most Colombian Americans raised in the United States continue to follow soccer. Another popular pastime, especially among the older generation, is parqués, a Colombian board game which is very similar to Parcheesi.

A traditional Bandeja paisa meal. A staple dish assembled with several foods making necessary to use a platter. It is made of beans, rice, fried eggs, chorizo, pork rind and other ingredients depending on the location.

Colombian food is varied due to the several distinct regions of Colombia. Popular dishes include bandeja paisa, sancocho (chicken or fish soup with plantain), empanadas (meat-filled turnovers), pandebono and pan de queso (types of cheese-bread), and arepas (corncake similar to a tortilla). Colombian food is popular and well known in South Florida and in Queens County. Some of the most common ingredients are: cereals such as rice and maize; tubers such as potato and cassava; assorted legumes; meats, including beef, chicken, pork and goat; fish; and seafood.[21][22]

Among the most representative appetizers and soups are patacones (fried green plantains), sancocho de gallina (chicken soup with root vegetables) and ajiaco (potato and corn soup). Representative snacks and breads are pandebono, arepas (corn cakes), aborrajados (fried sweet plantains with cheese), torta de choclo, empanadas and almojábanas. Representative main courses are bandeja paisa, lechona tolimense, mamona, tamales and fish dishes (such as arroz de lisa), especially in coastal regions where kibbeh, suero, costeño cheese and carimañolas are also eaten. Representative side dishes are papas chorreadas (potatoes with cheese), remolachas rellenas con huevo duro (beets stuffed with hard-boiled egg) and arroz con coco (coconut rice).[23][21][24][25]

Representative desserts are buñuelos, natillas, Maria Luisa cake, bocadillo made of guayaba (guava jelly), cocadas (coconut balls), casquitos de guayaba (candied guava peels), torta de natas, obleas, flan de arequipe, roscón, milhoja, and the tres leches cake (a sponge cake soaked in milk, covered in whipped cream, then served with condensed milk). Typical sauces (salsas) are hogao (tomato and onion sauce) and Colombian-style ají.[23][21]

Colombian coffee is known for its quality and distinct flavor.

Colombian coffee is the world's most popular coffee and is renowned for its high quality and distinct flavor. Though much of the world's quality coffee beans come from Colombia, there are many Colombians Americans that drink instant coffee rather than brewed. It is popularly consumed as a "tinto", meaning black with sugar or panela on the side, or as café con leche, which is a preparation of half coffee and half heated milk.

Some other representative beverages are champús, cholado, lulada, avena colombiana, sugarcane juice, aguapanela, and hot chocolate.[23][21]

Aguardiente is popular alcoholic drink derived from sugarcane and flavored with anise. It is widely consumed at Colombian parties, and ranges in potency from 20% to 40%. Aguardiente is a variation of the Spanish alcoholic drink.

Colombia cuisine also features a variety of tropical fruits such as cape gooseberry, feijoa, arazá, dragon fruit, mangostino, granadilla, papaya, guava, mora (blackberry), lulo, soursop and passionfruit.[23] Colombia is one of the world's largest consumers of fruit juices. These juices have made their way to supermarkets all across the United States.[26]

33% of Colombian Americans ages 25 and older—compared with 14% of all U.S. Hispanics and 30% among the entire U.S. population—have obtained at least a bachelor's degree.[27]

42% of U.S.-born Colombian Americans are more likely to have earned a bachelor's degree or higher, as compared to 30% of foreign born Colombians.[27]

Ice Hockey

• Scott Gomez - played for 16 seasons in the NHL, from 1999 to 2016.

Football

• Kiko Alonso - Linebacker, currently a free agent. Last played for the New Orleans Saints.

Soccer

• Jorge Acosta - Played in various ASL teams, including a brief stint with the United States national team in the early 1990s.
• Juan Agudelo - Currently plays for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer and for the United States national team.
• Alejandro Bedoya - Currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer and for the United States national team.
• Wilman Conde, Jr. - Played in the MLS for the Chicago Fire in MLS.
• Carlos Llamosa - Played in the MLS and for U.S. at 2002 FIFA World Cup, currently retired

Baseball

• Lou Castro
• Orlando Cabrera
• Édgar Rentería

Cycling

• George Hincapie - Tour de France competitor

Racing

• Juan Pablo Montoya
• Roberto Guerrero