The Greek-Americans (facts & figures)

Nikoz78 · 08-02-2008, 07:01 PM

I thought I'd share some interesting facts about Greek-Americans (this list is by no means exhaustive).

* The Greek-Americans are the #1 educated group in the United States. They are #2 financially.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

* The first Greek settlement in the New World was in the year 1768 (older than the United States) in the Florida town of New Smyrna (a free Greek settlement 60 years before the Turk was finally defeated in Greece). In near-by St. Augustine (Americas oldest city) is the National Greek-American Historical Museum (Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine).
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

* From the New York Times: "Astoria, Queens, is the heartland of the Greek-American settlement in New York City, said to be the largest Hellenic city in the world except for the ancient city of philosophers and poets, Athens. Chances are there will be a sort of rhythm coursing through the body on the way home after a tour of its restaurants, coffee houses, nightclubs and grocery stores. You can't imagine what it is to walk in the streets of Astoria and hear nothing but Greek; it's like being in Athens,"
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
[but Astoria is not "like walking in Athens" lol]

* Net migration today is TOWARD Greece not from Greece.

* There are a lot of Greeks in the U.S. - some figures put the number at almost 6 million Greeks here. This is people who claim Greek decent. But the actual number of legitimate Greeks is estimated to be between 1.5 to 3 million.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:
* "The first Greek known to have arrived on U.S. soil was a man named Don Theodoro, who landed on Florida with the Narváez expedition in 1528. He died during the expedition, as did most of his companions.

In 1592, Greek captain Juan de Fuca (Ioannis Fokas or Apostolos Valerianos) sailed up the Pacific coast in search of the fabled Northern Passage between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. He reported discovering a body of water that was later identified as the strait that today bears his name. The Strait of Juan de Fuca forms part of the International Boundary between the United States and Canada."
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

* Many claim that Columbus was a Byzantine Prince from Chios, which would put the Greeks in the New World in 1492 (only 32 years after the Byzantine Empire was finally completely destroyed in 1461). It's been proven that a Greek was on board Columbus' ship none-the-less.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

* The first significant Greek community to develop was in New Orleans, Louisiana during the 1850s. By 1866, the community was numerous and prosperous enough to have a Greek consulate and the first Greek Orthodox Church in the United States. During that period, most Greek immigrants to the New World came from Asia Minor, and those Aegean Islands still under Ottoman rule. By 1890, there were almost 15,000 Greeks living in the U.S.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

* Over 72,000 U.S. citizens currently live in Greece (1999); most of them are Greek Americans.

* Greek American novelist Jeffrey Eugenides won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for his novel Middlesex, about a Greek American family in Detroit.

* Several entertainers, including Demi Moore, John Aniston, Jennifer Aniston, Tommy Lee, Paul Cavonis, Criss Angel, Elias Koteas and Billy Zane are of Greek descent.

* Any person who is ethnically Greek born outside of Greece may become a Greek citizen through naturalization, providing he/she can prove a parent or grandparent was born as a national of Greece. The Greek ancestor's birth certificate and marriage certificate are required, along with the applicant's birth certificate, Orthodox baptismal papers, and the birth certificates of all generations in between until the relation between the applicant and the person with Greek citizenship is proven.

* Greeks born outside of Greece will be required to serve in the Greek Armed Forces if they stay in the country for more than 90 days. Any Greek born outside of Greece can obtain Greek citizenship if they come and serve the homeland. Also interesting is it does not matter if the Greek-American (or whoever) does not consider them self Greek or not - if the Greek government considers you Greek you must serve. The US Embassy will not intervene.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

* There are hundreds of regional, religious and professional Greek American organizations.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It's been said that the Greek-Americans are more organized than any other group in the U.S.

* The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association is the largest community organization of Greek Americans. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1922 during a period of anti-Greek attacks by the Ku Klux Klan. Its current [paying] membership exceeds 18,000.

* The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the religious organization most closely associated with the Greek American community. It was established in 1921, and is under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The church operates the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, the largest Orthodox Christian youth group in the United States.

* Many topika somatea or clubs representing the local regional homeland of Greeks in America. Among the scores of such clubs, larger ones include the Pan Macedonian Association, the Panepirotic Federation, the Pan Cretan Association, the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood, the Pan Pontian Federation of U.S.A-Canada and several associations of refugees from areas in the former Ottoman territories.

WIKIPEDIA:
* "Tarpon Springs, Florida is notable for having the highest percentage (per capita) of Greek-Americans of any city in the U.S. [This is an amazing sea side village, completely dominated by Greeks and Greek culture.] The first Greek immigrants arrived to this city during the 1880s, when they were hired to work as divers in the growing sponge harvesting industry. In 1905, John Cocoris (a Greek business man) introduced the technique of sponge diving to Tarpon Springs. Cocoris recruited Greek sponge divers from the Dodecanese Islands and Halki in particular leading, by the 1930s, to a very productive sponge industry in Tarpon Springs, generating millions of dollars a year."
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Today Tarpon Springs is the "Sponge Capital of the World," a Greek achievement.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Statue and sponge boats at the Sponge Docks

* St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery
In the summer of 1995 six monks arrived from the Holy Mountain (Athos, in Greece) to the southern Arizona desert to establish St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, the biggest of over a dozen secluded Greek Monastery's in America.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Distribution of Greek Americans [RED] according to the 2000 census

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

American and Greek flags in Tarpon Springs, Florida

Prokomenos · 08-02-2008, 07:15 PM

Thats some great information Nikoz. It is true most of the Greeks in the USA are very succesful business owners. Our parents came to this country with a hunger to succeed and to provide a better life for their children and most of them did do that.

Nikoz78 · 08-02-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prokomenos
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thats some great information Nikoz. It is true most of the Greeks in the USA are very succesful business owners. Our parents came to this country with a hunger to succeed and to provide a better life for their children and most of them did do that.

Our family used to run restaurants in the 1930's through the 1960's. Then, for some reason we switched to auto repair in the late 60's (lol). AAA voted our auto shops #1 out of four states five years in a row (for customer satisfaction and honesty) - and that was competing against literally thousands of other auto shops. We are very proud.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Our shop websites:

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I was born in Texas (in Houston). There are a lot of Greeks in Houston, but we never had a Greek Town so were all spread out (unfortunately). My father was born in Astoria too, during World War II (1944).

I think the Orthodox Churches outside of Greece really are like "Greek islands" because they offer classes and services not traditionally offered in the Churches in Greece.

I have put a lot of thought into the future of my own family here in the States. I have concluded that I have to move my wife and kids to Greece within the next 20 years. I don't want us to stay here because there is only a limited future here for Greeks even though we resist assimilation perhaps more than any other group.

I don't know how long you have been gone (you live in Greece correct?), but this country is changing rapidly. The media is (and has been) very powerful and run by globalists. I look around and see daily the negative effects it has on American youth. They own book publishing, magazines, movie houses, TV, you name it. It can only be called mass brain washing. I hate to say it but a LOT of Americans really are stupid (but most Greeks here are pretty hip to whats going on). I haven't watched TV in (literally) 7 years. It's like a freakin matrix.

My theios has remarked that he is worried about American media "culture" infecting Greece.

It sickens my heart.

Prokomenos · 08-02-2008, 08:06 PM

No my friend I live in NY and have always lived in NY. I dont know if I could just get up and leave to Greece its a different life style than what Im used to living.

I didnt know their where many Greeks in Texas. Im actually quite surprised.

Your also right about the America media and the affect it has on children not just that but public schools aswell. I just try to teach my children from now our customs, traditions like my parents taught me and hopefully they will be proud Greeks who follow our ways. I cant ask for anything else.

Nikoz78 · 08-02-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prokomenos
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I didnt know their where many Greeks in Texas. Im actually quite surprised.

There are a lot of Greeks here , but spread out. The Church and other organizations keep us together.

Here are some link about the Texas Greeks you may find interesting:

One thing we are proud of is that our Church in Houston was the originator of the Greek Festival in the U.S., the very first.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(music starts playing so be careful)

The very famous Niko Niko's
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(click on history, fairly interesting. This place is always packed). There are a ton of Greek restaurants here.

Info about Greek Texans
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

My Father's Son: The Story Behind the Greek Mafia in Houston (book). The room to the right of our Churches Narthex is mentioned in this book as a meeting place for these Greek mobsters (they knew the FBI could not bug a Church - cold blooded). They were descended from the NY families. There is a huge chain of Greek-owned restaurants called Pappas (who also own most grocery stores here). They have ties. My dad was an alter boy way way back with their Patera.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Here is a link to the Wiki about these Pappas millionaires:
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Ethnic Identification: The Greek Americans of Houston, Texas (book)
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Greek Orthodox Church in Houston
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(check out the Byzantine style - it's amazing!) & OLD CHURCH
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Here is a Wiki page about the old Church (founded in 1917, includes some photos; this Church was relocated in the 50's):
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Greeks of Houston (I have no idea what this site is about lol):
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Gah! I've gone link crazy today !!
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Megale · 08-03-2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prokomenos
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

No my friend I live in NY and have always lived in NY. I dont know if I could just get up and leave to Greece its a different life style than what Im used to living.

I didnt know their where many Greeks in Texas. Im actually quite surprised.

Your also right about the America media and the affect it has on children not just that but public schools aswell. I just try to teach my children from now our customs, traditions like my parents taught me and hopefully they will be proud Greeks who follow our ways. I cant ask for anything else.

Another unexpected place where there are a lot of Greeks is Salt Lake City, Utah.

phoenix · 08-03-2008, 09:20 AM

Nice work NIKOS.. From what I know my dads cousin was a test pilot ih the HELLENIC air force and some how ended up marrying some American high Rankin officers daughter there Houston and, I think hes or was a mathematician lecturer at some university down there..

Nikoz78 · 08-03-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Nice work NIKOS.. From what I know my dads cousin was a test pilot ih the HELLENIC air force and some how ended up marrying some American high Rankin officers daughter there Houston and, I think hes or was a mathematician lecturer at some university down there..

Thats awesome. Do you know what kind of planes he was testing?

It was probably Rice University he taught at. One of the most important Universities in the US.

Nikoz78 · 08-03-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megale
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Another unexpected place where there are a lot of Greeks is Salt Lake City, Utah.

You got me curious so I went Googleing.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Here are some links I found about the Greeks in Utah:

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(notice how this article has an mild anti-Greek tone. It was kind of humorous, lol. The Greeks in Utah got so pissed about being cheated over coal that they rioted and shot the sheriff!)
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Prokomenos · 08-03-2008, 01:22 PM

Another link of the forum that might people might find interesting..

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.