Liechtensteiner Americans () are
Americans
Americans are the Citizenship of the United States, citizens and United States nationality law, nationals of the United States, United States of America.; ; Law of the United States, U.S. federal law does not equate nationality with Race (hu ...
of
Liechtensteiner descent.
History
The first recorded Liechtensteiner emigrants have immigrated to the United States in the early 1830s. However, the first great wave of Liechtensteiner emigrants arrived in the United States on April 7, 1851, settling in
New Orleans
New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
; and in 1852 another group immigrated to
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque (, ) is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. The population was 59,667 at the 2020 United States census. The city lies along the Mississippi River at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a region ...
(including stonemasons, bricklayers and carpenters). Eventually, many of the Liechtensteiner immigrants to Dubuque left that city and got farms nearby. However, the Liechtensteiner emigration was markedly reduced during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
(1861-1865). Later, when the construction of railroads began "tying the country together and opening up the West", other Liechtensteiners immigrated to the United States to work in the construction of railroads.
During the following decades, many other Liechtensteiners immigrated to places such as
Guttenberg, Iowa
Guttenberg is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States, along the Mississippi River. The population was 1,817 at the time of the 2020 census, down from 1,987 at the 2000 census.
History
Prairie La Porte, meaning "the door to the prairi ...
and
Wabash, Indiana
Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census. The city is situated along the Wabash River in the cou ...
. However, between 1885 and 1907, Liechtensteiner emigration was markedly reduced, limited to a few individuals and families. Less than 30 Liechtensteiners immigrated during that period to the United States. Reducing migration was due to the significant increase in economic activity derived from the establishment of the first textile factories in the 1880s.
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
caused an economic crisis in Liechtenstein (which originated, among other things, because the Entente allies stopped the "import of raw materials" into the country and the "massive speculation by the national bank"), so the Liechtenstein immigration to the United States was retaken. Most of the new Liechtensteiner emigrants settled in urban areas, especially in
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
and
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond ( ) is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. Located along Lake Michigan, it is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the only city in Indiana to border Chicago. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the Li ...
, but there were Liechtensteiners throughout the country.
After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, a few more Liechtensteiners immigrated to the United States, the largest number arriving in 1948, when fifteen individuals or families immigrated. The reduction of the Liechtenstein emigration was due to improvements in the economic conditions of Liechtenstein.
[Norbert Jansen (16 June 2002)]
Principality of Liechtenstein (FL): Emigration to America (volume 1)
Consulted on 17 May 2017.
Notable people
*
John Latenser Sr.
*
Rainer Nägele
See also
*
Liechtenstein–United States relations
The United States and Liechtenstein executed their first treaty in 1926. Diplomatic relations were established in 1997. Since then, the relations between the two nations have been stable. Representatives of both countries in 2002 signed a mutual ...
References
European diaspora in the United States
Liechtenstein diaspora
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