Georgia’s largest source of immigrants: First Germany then Mexico
It probably won’t come as a surprise to many that Mexico is the largest source of immigrants living in Georgia. But what about a century ago? In 1910, that distinction went to Germany, according to report released this week by the Pew Research Center.
That same year, Germany was the top country of birth for U.S. immigrants. German natives accounted for 18 percent of all immigrants – or 2.5 million – in the U.S. They also represented the biggest immigrant group in Georgia and 16 other states plus the District of Columbia.
At the time, Mexico accounted for the most immigrants in just three states: Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Now it is the source of most immigrants for most states. Mexico is the birthplace of 29 percent – or 11.7 million – of all immigrants in the U.S.
The Pew report also shows a shift in immigration over the last century. In 1910, 15 percent of the U.S. population was foreign-born. That number dropped to 13 percent in 2010.
About the Author
Jeremy Redmon is an award-winning journalist, essayist and educator with more than three decades of experience reporting for newspapers. He has written for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2005.
