Canadian Americans

Immigration Patterns

A certain number of Canadians have always migrated to the United States. Compared with the majority of other immigrants' experiences, Canadians experience a relatively uncomplicated immigration (as well as remi-gration), if only due to the proximity of the two nations. With the building of the railways, traveling was simple, and an estimated 2.5 million people made their exodus to the United States between 1850 and the 1890s. It wasn't until the Great Depression that migration [Page 234]slowed, due to lack of economic opportunities in the United States. In fact, many returned to their farms in Canada to wait out the hard times.

In addition, crossing the border was fairly simple. For those who traveled back and forth over the border, one typically needed identification that proved citizenship to the United States or Canada; later regulations included verification of identity by way of a photo. For many years, U.S. citizens and Canadians had not been required to present a passport to enter or reenter the United States. The events of September 11, 2001, led to the tightening of border controls between Canada and the United States. The Department of Homeland Security developed the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which has changed the document requirements for those entering the country. More specifically, one now needs to present a passport to enter or reenter the United States.

Contemporary Community

Greater job opportunities and higher wages brought an estimated 2.3 million Canadian immigrants to the United States between 1930 and 1980, including well-trained professional workers, skilled craftsmen, laborers, and domestic workers. Since 1980, about 290,000 Canadian immigrants have arrived in the United States. In recent years, people from Canada have sought permanent residency and completed the naturalization process to become citizens. About 80,000 Canadian Americans became naturalized citizens between 1997 and 2006. Of those Canadian-born present here in 2000, only 18.5% had entered the country prior to 2000. Their median family income was $61,708, compared with $50,890 for the nation as a whole.

Even though Canadians feel a sense of kinship with Americans, many stress the differences between Canadian and U.S. cultures and maintain a sense of distinctive Canadian identity. Overall, Canadian immigrants are the national group whose members are least likely to become naturalized citizens, even after many years of living in the United States.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, there were 487,451 people of Canadian national origin in the United States. In terms of geographic distribution, the top five states were California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York.

Within the Canadian American community is an important group: French Canadian immigrants and their descendants. Immigration and census data do not distinguish this group from the larger group of English-speaking arrivals. However, scholarly studies suggest French-speaking migrants have a different history. Their migration has been influenced by changing perceptions of the opportunities they have in Anglophone Canada; prior to 1930, shortage of affordable agricultural land in Canada was also a factor in immigration decisions. These “push” factors were coupled with the perceived receptivity of French Canadian communities in the United States, which are often organized around French-speaking parishes and schools, typically in New England.

...