Austrian Americans (German:Österreichamerikaner,pronounced[ˈøːstɐraɪçameriˌkaːnɐ]) are Americans ofAustrian descent, chiefly German-speaking Catholics and Jews. According to the2000 U.S. census, there were 735,128 Americans of full or partial Austrian descent, accounting for 0.3% of the population. The states with the largest Austrian American populations are New York (93,083), California (84,959), Pennsylvania (58,002) (most of them in theLehigh Valley), Florida (54,214), New Jersey (45,154), and Ohio (27,017).[2]
The Austrian migration to the U.S. probably started in 1734, when a group of 50 families from the city ofSalzburg migrated to the newly founded Georgia. Having a Protestant background, they migrated because ofCatholic repression in their country.[citation needed]
Most of these newly immigrated Austrians were cosmopolitan and left-wing. They found employment in Chicago stockyards and in Pennsylvania, in jobs related to cement and steel factories. Many of them, more than 35 percent, returned to Austria with the savings that they had made by their employment.[citation needed]
In the late 1930s, more and more Austrians migrated to the United States, most of which were Jews fleeing the Nazi persecution that started with theAnnexation of Austria in 1938. In 1941, some 29,000 Jewish Austrians had emigrated to the United States. Most of them were doctors, lawyers, architects and artists (such as composers, writers and stage/ film directors).[5] AfterWW II ended, some further 40,000 Austrians emigrated to the United States (1945-1960).
Since the 1960s, however, Austrian immigration has been very small, mostly because Austria is now a developed nation, where poverty and political oppression are scarce. According to the 1990 U.S. census, 948,558 people identified their origins in Austria.[6] Most of the present-day immigrants who currently live in the United States who were born in Austria identify themselves as being of Austrian ancestry, but the percentage who identify themselves as being of German ancestry is larger than the one expected on the basis of the opinion polls in Austria. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2015, there were 26,603 individuals living in the U.S. born in Austria who identified themselves as being of Austrian ancestry.[7] By contrast, in the same year, there were 6,200 individuals living in the U.S. born in Austria who identified themselves as being of German ancestry.[8] Most of the immigrants from South Tyrol in Italy to the United States identify themselves as being of German rather than Austrian ancestry. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2015, there were 365 individuals living in the U.S. born in Italy who identified themselves as being of Austrian ancestry.[7] By contrast, in the same year, there were 1040 individuals living in the U.S. born in Italy who identified themselves as being of German ancestry.[8]
Austrian immigrants adapted quickly to American society because the Austro-Hungarian Empire had also been amelting pot of many cultures and languages. On the other hand, despite the rejection that Austrians feel toward the behavior of theGermans, regarded by Austrians as less tolerants and cosmopolitans, they have suffered the same damages and discrimination that German immigrants have faced in the United States. They were considered by Americans to be the same because of their language and both world wars.[6]
The emigration of other religious groups from Austria to the United States, especially theJews from Vienna after 1938, has also contributed to strengthen religious variety in the United States.[6][9]Isidor Bush (1822–98) emigrated from Vienna in 1849 and became a leading Jewish citizen of the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri through his business ventures, religious work, and political activities. His vineyards were famous and profitable.[10]
Austrian-American communities in the United States
Wolfgang Pauli – theoretical physicist and pioneer of quantum physics, received the Nobel Prize in Physics.[35]
Victor Frederick Weisskopf – physicist of Jewish descent. During World War II, he worked at Los Alamos on the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb, and later campaigned against the proliferation of nuclear weapons; medal received in 1979[36]
Kurt von Schuschnigg –Austrofascist politician and Austrian federal Chancellor 1936-1938 and professor of political sciences at St. Louis University 1948-1967[44]
^Melissa Jane Taylor, "Family matters: the emigration of elderly Jews from Vienna to the United States, 1938-1941."Journal of Social History 45.1 (2011): 238-260.online
^Siegmar Muehl, "Isidor Bush and the Bushberg Vineyards of Jefferson County," Missouri Historical Review (1999) 94#1 pp 42-58.
^[3]Archived February 1, 2016, at theWayback Machine "Though his professional name was suggestive of a Latin Lover type, actor Ricardo Cortez was actually an Austrian Jew, born Jacob Krantz. He arrived in Hollywood in 1922, at a time when the Rudolph Valentino craze was at its height."
^[4] regarding an Austrian decoration: "I have focused on Austrian studies most of my academic life. As an Austrian-American, it makes me especially proud."
^[5] "Austrian born film star, Hedy Lamarr, of the 1930 and 40s was also a gifted electrical engineer.""The Hedy Lamarr Story: Part 1". Archived fromthe original on February 28, 2005. RetrievedApril 13, 2006. "Hedy Lamarr had been an American citizen since 1953."
^[6] "Elissa Landi Austrian/Italian leading lady."
^[7] "Arnold Schwarzenegger, "The Austrian Oak", was a bodybuilding prodigy who won the..."[8] "Arnold was the embodiment of the American (a naturalized citizen since 1983) dream..."
^[9] "Galvanizing, stern-featured Viennese character actress with extensive Broadway experience..."
^[10] "That's Erika Slezak, daughter of the famous Austrian-American actor Walter Slezak..."
^[11] "Wilder, Austrian-born, but in the US since 1934, directed his last film in 1981."
^[12] "A study of the life and work of Austrian composer Korngold..."
^Rudhyar, Dane (1982).The Magic of Tone and the Art of Music. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
^"Joseph Keppler". Archived fromthe original on January 22, 2008. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2008. "Joseph Keppler was born in Vienna, Austria, on 1st February, 1838."
^Wolfgang Pauli: "… in 1946 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Following World War II he returned to Zurich."
^[13] "Growing up in Vienna in a well-to-do Jewish family..."[14] "One of the most brilliant Jewish scientists to be driven from Germany by Nazi persecution..."
^[15] "Wilhelm Reich, an Austrian-Ukrainian of Jewish background."
^Wendel, Ray A. (2007). "In Honor Of Paul Watzlawick".Journal of Marital & Family Therapy. 33.3 (2007):293–294.
^[16] "Austrian-American legal philosopher, teacher, jurist, and writer on international law..."
^[17] "Born and educated in Vienna. Immigrated to the United States and served in the 33rd Congressional District (Pittsburgh, PA)."
^Obituary of Schuschnigg inThe Times, London, 19 November 1977
^"WolfgangPuck.com:Company". Archived fromthe original on September 12, 2006. RetrievedAugust 31, 2006. "The Austrian-born Puck began..."; WolfgangPuck.com (2005); retrieved 2006-08-31
Jones, J. Sydney. "Austrian Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2014), pp. 189–202.online
Pochmann, Henry A.German Culture in America: Philosophical and Literary Influences 1600–1900 (1957). 890pp; comprehensive review of German influence on Americans esp 19th century.online
Pochmann, Henry A. and Arthur R. Schult. Bibliography of German Culture in America to 1940 (2nd ed 1982); massive listing, but no annotations.
Spaulding, E. Wilder.The Quiet Invaders: The Story of the Austrian Impact upon America (Vienna: Österreichische Bundesverlag, 1968).
Thernstrom, Stephen, ed.Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups (1980) pp 164–170.Online free to borrow
