Immigrant Communities
The United States is a country of immigrants. Whether in search of opportunities or personal freedoms, whether starting new businesses or fleeing civil war, people immigrate to create new lives for themselves and their families. The immigrants who have chosen to stay in the Philadelphia region have not only started anew for themselves, they have also imbued cultural richness into our society. Every immigrant carries with him a unique experience and history.
Recent Immigration to Philadelphia: Regional Change in a Re-Emerging Gateway
According to this November 2008 report from the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, nearly 75 percent of labor force growth in the greater Philadelphia region between 2000 and 2006 is attributable to immigrants. Another interesting finding of this report, which covers the period 1970 - 2006, is that immigrant growth in the suburbs has outpaced the city's growth. "Philadelphia's re-emergence as an immigrant gateway brings both opportunities and challenges for policymakers, service providers and communities throughout the region," states the Brookings Institution.
Learn more about where Philadelphia's immigrants are coming from, as well as the growth and characteristics of the foreign born in the Philadelphian metropolitan area, by accessing the report here.
Immigrant Settlement Patterns in Greater Philadelphia
Where are Philadelphia’s immigrants? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are currently studying the demographics of immigration in the Delaware Valley. As part of the Philadelphia Migration Project, History Professor Michael Katz and demographer Mathew Creighton are tracking regional immigration trends over the past 30 years. Their work provides an overview of the historical impact of immigration on Greater Philadelphia to date, and predicts what effect the foreign-born will have on the city’s future.
To learn about some of their initial findings check out this presentation.
Philadelphia is home to many immigrant communities. Below are descriptions of these communities organized by continent and county of origin.
Did You Know...
Founded as a haven of religious freedom, Philadelphia has been a city of Immigrants since the 17th Century.
