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There are 14,300Albanian Americans inIllinois, 0.1% of the state's population, slightly above the national average of 0.07%. While still a small proportion of the population, Albanian Americans have contributed significantly to the food scene ofChicagoland, especially in the pizza and Italian cuisine industry. While Albanians often open up restaurants and markets that serve Albanian and Balkan cuisine and flare, they have a finesse in the Italian-style pasta and pizza industry.[1]
To avoid service in the Turkish War due to Albania being under Ottoman Empire rule, groups of Albanians came to the US in the late 1800s. By 1914 approximately 1,000 Albanians resided in greater Chicago and northern Illinois. Most worked in factories, restaurants, or the construction industry.[2] According to 2018-2022 Census estimates, there are approximately 6,500 Albanian immigrants residing in Illinois, with the majority living inCook (3,000) andDuPage (2,500) Counties.[3] This represents roughly 6% of all Albanian immigrants in the country.
In Chicago proper, there are 2,400 ethnic Albanian residents. The 60646 and 60630 zip codes have 400 and 300 Albanians recorded as per a 2020s-recorded U.S. Census Bureau data estimate distributed via ZipAtlas.com; both zip codes are located in the northwest side of Chicago neighborhoods ofJefferson Park, Chicago,Forest Glen, Chicago, andSauganash, Chicago.[4]
Naperville,Lombard,Schiller Park,Arlington Heights, andMinooka all have sizable Albanian populations numbering over 500 ethnically Albanian individuals in each city.[5] Smaller suburban communities such asPalos Hills,Burr Ridge,Streamwood,Addison,Elmwood Park,Palatine,Glendale Heights,Oswego, andGlen Ellyn also have Albanian populations which accumulate to very near one percent or surpassing that figure of said cities' populations.
The Albanian-American Community of Illinois is aDowntown Chicago-based non-profit organization that helps serve the Albanian community of Greater Chicago.[6]
The Albanian-American Women's Association of Greater Chicago is based inHinsdale.
There is also an Albanian American Islamic Center, which proclaims that Chicago has the largest concentration of Albanian Muslims in the U.S.; there is a Weekend school that teaches children the Albanian language.[7]
The St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church serves Albanian Christian communities.
There are Albanian language classes for children offered at the St. Nicholas Church.
The Shkolla Shqipe 'Kongresi i Manastirit' Albanian School is an Albanian cultural and linguistic immersion elementary school inBerkeley, Illinois. The Hidai Eddie Bregu Program Of Albanian Studies is offered atDePaul University.