CATALYST PLANET - 8 Immigrant Neighborhoods in the United States That Offer Glimpses of Another Country

Explore world cultures without leaving the United States in these 8 diaspora neighborhoods.

Little Italy, an Italian neighborhood in New York, attracts many visitors each year. dog97209. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The United States is a nation of immigrants. They built the country, served the country and made the country stronger. However, many immigrants struggled immediately after arriving. They faced harassment and discrimination, forcing them to forge tight-knit communities with fellow immigrants from their home country for support. Many people from similar backgrounds settled together, forming immigrant diaspora communities that survive to this day. In many of these communities, the cultural traditions of the native country are preserved, offering a glimpse of those countries without leaving the United States. Here are 8 unique immigrant diaspora communities around the United States.

1. Polish Downtown, Chicago

St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Chicago. ShutterRunner. CC BY-NC 2.0.

While Chicago claims to be the largest Polish city outside of Poland, that is not completely accurate. Nevertheless, Chicago still has a very strong Polish presence, and it has a stronger claim to being America’s traditional center of the Polish diaspora. The Polish population in Chicago used to be centered in the Polish Triangle at the intersections of Milwaukee Avenue, Division Street and Ashland Avenue northwest of the Loop. While much of the Polish population left the neighborhood during the 1960s to the suburbs, the area is still home to almost every major Polish organization in the United States, such as the Polish National Alliance and the Polish Daily News. The Polish cathedrals of St. Stanislaus Kostka and Holy Trinity Polish Mission uses the Chopin Theater for its processions. It is also the site of the Polish Museum of America.

2. Jackson Heights, New York

The 74th Street station on the 7 Train serves the Jackson Heights neighborhood. User:Jleon. CC BY-SA 3.0.

New York is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with at least 36% of the population being foreign born and being home to around 800 languages according to some surveys. In the Queens, the 7 Train is known as the “international express” since it runs through many different immigrant communities. One of those communities it runs through is Jackson Heights, home to a large Indian population. Home to many Indian restaurants, the Butala Emporium is also a great place to get souvenirs. More authentic establishments exist, that serve South Asian food ranging from gingery beef nihari to chicken samosas, and some restaurants serve food on round metal thalis that contain up to ten dishes for family sharing. Residents report that they feel like they are in India more than in New York.

3. Little Havana, Miami

Barber shops are a common presence in Little Havana. Phillip Pessar. CC BY 2.0.

Centered around Calle Ocho (8th Street), Little Havana is the core of Miami’s Cuban diaspora community. Much of Miami’s Cuban population crossed the Florida Straits in a precarious situation attempting to escape the Castro regime. Those who made it to Florida found support among fellow Cubans in Little Havana. Now, the most well-known features of the neighborhood are its food scene and its music scene. The Cuban restaurants there offer everything from Cuban coffee to Cuban sandwiches, and most have a jovial atmosphere. Ice cream shops feature subtropical flavors and artisanal styles. Little Havana also plays host to the Calle Ocho Music Festival in March and is the home of a number of performing arts centers, specializing in Latino dances.

4. The Hill, St. Louis

A fire hydrant and a nearby business is painted with the Italian tricolor in The Hill. Botsojoy. CC BY-SA 3.0.

Italian immigration inundated the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While the more famous neighborhoods of North End in Boston and Little Italy in New York were the destination of a large number of those immigrants, The Hill in St. Louis also attracted a number of them. Today, The Hill is a vibrant and colorful neighborhood with a strong Italian heritage. Many restaurants have their own special recipes for dishes from sandwiches to pasta. Other than traditional Italian restaurants, the organization Italian Community of St. Louis organizes the Carnivale festival in February and Ferragosto in August. The organization also hosts an Italian Language Program.

5. French Quarter, New Orleans

Nightlife in the French Quarter. wallyg. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The oldest part of New Orleans, the French Quarter, was settled by French Creoles in the early 18th century. While those early roots are still visible in the neighborhood, the area actually changed hands several times, being home to at different times large populations of Spanish, Italian and Irish migrants. The buildings have a distinct Spanish style, since much of the present neighborhood was built during the time of Spanish colonization. Today, the area is known for its vibrant nightlife. Bourbon Street is filled with bars, many with notable histories, with some of them said to be haunted. Bed and breakfasts also abound in the area, as do jazz clubs. Visitors can also view historic landmarks such as Jackson Square and go on riverboat rides along the Mississippi River.

6. Chinatown, San Francisco

Chinatown, San Francisco. www.bluewaikiki.com. CC BY-SA 2.0.

There are countless Chinatowns around the United States, but the one in San Francisco is the oldest. Established in 1848, right before the California Gold Rush, the residents of the neighborhood traditionally spoke Hoisanese though now Cantonese and Mandarin predominate. Only 14% of its residents in 2015 can speak English. The main thoroughfare of the neighborhood, Grant Avenue, contains many stores and restaurants, as well as the iconic Dragon Gate. The oriental style architecture was built to ward off plans to move Chinatown to a less desirable area after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. For a more authentic experience, Stockton Street, home of produce and animal markets as well as herbal shops, is where most of the actual residents of Chinatown shop. Tea-tasting is a relatively new phenomenon to reach the neighborhood.

7. Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles

Mural in Historic Filipinotown. kennyschang. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

It is not the only enclave of Filipinos in Southern California, but Historic Filipinotown got its name by being one of the first places the Filipinos settled in the early 20th century. While it is mostly a residential neighborhood, the area offers both traditional and trendy Filipino eateries, such as one combining Southern BBQ with traditional Filipino flavors. A new gateway has been built to let visitors know that they have entered the neighborhood. There are also murals depicting notable Filipino-American figures and a World War II memorial commemorating the Filipinos who died fighting for the country.

8. El Centro de Oro, Philadelphia

A Puerto Rican demonstration in Philadelphia. joepiette2. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Located along 5th Street in North Philadelphia, El Centro de Oro, literally “the center of gold”, is the main Latino district of the city. While many of its residents are of Puerto Rican descent, there is also a sizable population of Dominicans and Spaniards. Two murals grace the southern entrance to the neighborhood. The businesses there primarily cater to the needs of the Puerto Rican residents of the area, and their shops are painted in pastel colors inspired by the Caribbean origins of many of the residents. Traditional Puerto Rican foods can be found in those restaurants, with common dishes such as mofongo, burritos and arepas. There is also a vibrant night market in the area that features food trucks and live entertainment.