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What Missouri’s immigrant population looked like in 1900


Historical // Getty Images

What Missouri’s immigrant population looked like in 1900

Since the first successful English colony settled in Jamestown in 1607, flows of immigrants have arrived on American shores seeking a new life. From Irish immigrants fleeing famine to Chinese immigrants settling in California during the Gold Rush, more than 86 million people legally immigrated to the United States between 1783 and 2019.

There have been four major waves of immigration to the U.S., beginning with settlers from northern and western Europe seeking land on the frontier from 1820 to 1880. The immigrants counted in the 1900 Census hailed primarily from southern and eastern Europe, drawn by the call of industrialization in America. At the advent of the era of world wars, there was a dearth of immigration, but after 1965, individuals from Asia and Latin America began to move to the U.S. in droves.

Though the national immigrant population today and in 1900 is comparable by percentage, hovering around 14% of the overall U.S. population, the raw population tells a different story. Today, the U.S. is home to 44.7 million immigrants, whereas that number was just shy of 10.5 million at the time of the 1900 Census. Stacker compiled a list of the largest sources of immigrants in Missouri in 1900 by transcribing a previously untranscribed dataset from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by total residents who were born in that country.

Immigration to the U.S. was handled at the state level prior to 1890, with each state government designating its own processes and checkpoints. New York originally used Castle Garden (now Castle Clinton) as its immigration processing hub, but within a few decades realized that a massive influx of immigrants necessitated a larger venue. Ellis Island opened on Jan. 1, 1892, to the first of more than 12 million individuals who entered the U.S. through its doors.

Keep reading to find out more about the historical immigrant community in your home state or explore the data on your own on our site, GitHub, or data.world.

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Lewis W. Hine // Getty Images

#1. Germany

Missouri
– Number of residents: 109,282
– Percent of foreign born residents: 50.50%
– Percent of total state population: 3.52%
National
– Number of residents: 2,669,164
– Percent of foreign born residents: 25.52%
– #1 most common country of origin



FPG // Getty Images

#2. Ireland

Missouri
– Number of residents: 31,832
– Percent of foreign born residents: 14.71%
– Percent of total state population: 1.02%
National
– Number of residents: 1,619,409
– Percent of foreign born residents: 15.48%
– #2 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#3. England

Missouri
– Number of residents: 15,666
– Percent of foreign born residents: 7.24%
– Percent of total state population: 0.50%
National
– Number of residents: 843,491
– Percent of foreign born residents: 8.06%
– #4 most common country of origin



Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#4. Canada

Missouri
– Number of residents: 8,596
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.97%
– Percent of total state population: 0.28%
National
– Number of residents: 1,183,225
– Percent of foreign born residents: 11.31%
– #3 most common country of origin



UniversalImagesGroup // Getty Images

#5. Switzerland

Missouri
– Number of residents: 6,819
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.15%
– Percent of total state population: 0.22%
National
– Number of residents: 115,959
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.11%
– #15 most common country of origin

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Samuel Hopwood // Getty Images

#6. Russia

Missouri
– Number of residents: 6,672
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.08%
– Percent of total state population: 0.21%
National
– Number of residents: 424,372
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.06%
– #7 most common country of origin



Minnesota Historical Society // Getty Images

#7. Sweden

Missouri
– Number of residents: 5,692
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.63%
– Percent of total state population: 0.18%
National
– Number of residents: 574,625
– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.49%
– #5 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#8. Austria

Missouri
– Number of residents: 4,458
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.06%
– Percent of total state population: 0.14%
National
– Number of residents: 276,702
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.65%
– #10 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#9. Italy

Missouri
– Number of residents: 4,345
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.01%
– Percent of total state population: 0.14%
National
– Number of residents: 484,703
– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.63%
– #6 most common country of origin



Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#10. Scotland

Missouri
– Number of residents: 3,878
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.79%
– Percent of total state population: 0.12%
National
– Number of residents: 234,699
– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.24%
– #11 most common country of origin

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Minnesota Historical Society // Getty Images

#11. Poland

Missouri
– Number of residents: 3,680
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.70%
– Percent of total state population: 0.12%
National
– Number of residents: 383,595
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.67%
– #8 most common country of origin



FPG // Getty Images

#12. Bohemia

Missouri
– Number of residents: 3,453
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.60%
– Percent of total state population: 0.11%
National
– Number of residents: 156,999
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.50%
– #12 most common country of origin



Universal History Archive // Getty Images

#13. France

Missouri
– Number of residents: 3,288
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.52%
– Percent of total state population: 0.11%
National
– Number of residents: 104,534
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.00%
– #18 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#14. Wales

Missouri
– Number of residents: 1,613
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.75%
– Percent of total state population: 0.05%
National
– Number of residents: 93,744
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.90%
– #20 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#15. Denmark

Missouri
– Number of residents: 1,510
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.70%
– Percent of total state population: 0.05%
National
– Number of residents: 154,616
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.48%
– #13 most common country of origin

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Smith Collection/Gado // Getty Images

#16. Hungary

Missouri
– Number of residents: 902
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.42%
– Percent of total state population: 0.03%
National
– Number of residents: 145,815
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.39%
– #14 most common country of origin



FPG // Getty Images

#17. Belgium

Missouri
– Number of residents: 864
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.40%
– Percent of total state population: 0.03%
National
– Number of residents: 29,848
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.29%
– #24 most common country of origin



Universal History Archive // Getty Images

#18. Holland

Missouri
– Number of residents: 812
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.38%
– Percent of total state population: 0.03%
National
– Number of residents: 105,098
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.00%
– #17 most common country of origin



Buyenlarge // Getty Images

#19. Norway

Missouri
– Number of residents: 530
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.24%
– Percent of total state population: 0.02%
National
– Number of residents: 338,426
– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.24%
– #9 most common country of origin



FPG // Getty Images

#20. China

Missouri
– Number of residents: 442
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.20%
– Percent of total state population: 0.01%
National
– Number of residents: 106,659
– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.02%
– #16 most common country of origin

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Print Collector // Getty Images

#21. Asia (except China, Japan, and India)

Missouri
– Number of residents: 339
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.16%
– Percent of total state population: 0.01%
National
– Number of residents: 11,928
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.11%
– #27 most common country of origin



Lewis W. Hine // Getty Images

#22. Born at Sea

Missouri
– Number of residents: 330
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.15%
– Percent of total state population: 0.01%
National
– Number of residents: 8,310
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.08%
– #32 most common country of origin



Alexander Alland, Jr. // Getty Images

#23. Mexico

Missouri
– Number of residents: 162
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.07%
– Percent of total state population: 0.01%
National
– Number of residents: 103,445
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.99%
– #19 most common country of origin



Universal History Archive // Getty Images

#24. Australia

Missouri
– Number of residents: 144
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.07%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 7,041
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.07%
– #34 most common country of origin



ullstein bild Dtl. // Getty Images

#25. South America

Missouri
– Number of residents: 123
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.06%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 4,814
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.05%
– #35 most common country of origin

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David RUBINGER // Getty Images

#26. Roumania

Missouri
– Number of residents: 115
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.05%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 15,043
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.14%
– #25 most common country of origin



Universal History Archive // Getty Images

#27. West Indies (except Cuba and Puerto Rico)

Missouri
– Number of residents: 101
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.05%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 14,468
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.14%
– #26 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#28. Central America

Missouri
– Number of residents: 99
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.05%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 3,911
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.04%
– #36 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#29. Turkey

Missouri
– Number of residents: 88
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.04%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 9,949
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.10%
– #30 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#30. Europe (not otherwise specified)

Missouri
– Number of residents: 76
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.04%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 2,272
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.02%
– #41 most common country of origin

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Interim Archives // Getty Images

#31. Greece

Missouri
– Number of residents: 66
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.03%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 8,655
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.08%
– #31 most common country of origin



Keystone-France // Getty Images

#32. Finland

Missouri
– Number of residents: 65
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.03%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 63,440
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.61%
– #22 most common country of origin



Bettmann // Getty Images

#33. Other Countries

Missouri
– Number of residents: 63
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.03%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 2,587
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.02%
– #39 most common country of origin



ullstein bild // Getty Images

#34. Spain

Missouri
– Number of residents: 61
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.03%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 7,284
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.07%
– #33 most common country of origin



Hulton Deutsch // Getty Images

#35. Cuba

Missouri
– Number of residents: 47
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.02%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 11,159
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.11%
– #28 most common country of origin

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Bettmann // Getty Images

#36. Africa

Missouri
– Number of residents: 39
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.02%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 2,577
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.02%
– #40 most common country of origin



Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#37. India

Missouri
– Number of residents: 33
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.02%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 2,069
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.02%
– #42 most common country of origin



ullstein bild Dtl. // Getty Images

#38. Pacific Islands (except Phillipine Islands)

Missouri
– Number of residents: 25
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.01%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 2,659
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.03%
– #38 most common country of origin



David RUBINGER // Getty Images

#39. Portugal

Missouri
– Number of residents: 16
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.01%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 37,144
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.36%
– #23 most common country of origin



Smith Collection/Gado // Getty Images

#40. Luxemburg

Missouri
– Number of residents: 12
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.01%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 3,049
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.03%
– #37 most common country of origin

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Historical // Getty Images

#41. Japan

Missouri
– Number of residents: 11
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.01%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 81,590
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.78%
– #21 most common country of origin



Historical // Getty Images

#42. Atlantic Islands

Missouri
– Number of residents: 10
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.00%
– Percent of total state population: 0.00%
National
– Number of residents: 10,955
– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.10%
– #29 most common country of origin


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