Danbury in Fairfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Diversity in Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
— The Museum in the Streets® —
The start of the 20th century saw a continual influx of newcomers to Danbury. A religious census taken in 1916 showed that 27 nationalities and 20 creeds were represented among the 22,533 residents of the town.
The 1910 census shows that a majority of the population were foreign born. The most numerous continued to be Italians. Their numbers increased until they outnumbered the Irish as the major foreign born group by the 1930s.
For many immigrants, churches, schools and fraternal organizations kept alive ties to culture, language and kinship. Trusted leaders assisted newcomers in securing jobs and housing and many found their way through the process of naturalization. Very often, children of these community leaders were among the first to hold public office in the city.
Many Portuguese worked in the hat factories and on local road construction crews. 1998 brought a merger of the Sons of Portugal, a club founded in 1924, with the Portuguese American Club, founded in 1938. By 1920 Greeks who had settled in town founded Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in a house on Farview Avenue.
The post-Vietnam War years brought Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian and other Southeast Asian refugees to the United States and our city. In recent years, thriving communities of Central and South American peoples, as well as those from India, have settled throughout the Greater Danbury area.
City schools and the changing landscape of our neighborhoods and local businesses offer an unparalleled glimpse of our population. They are a daily reminder of Danbury’s legacy as a place where those seeking a new life are welcomed into the community. It is important to remember that the multicultural diversity of Danbury has always been one of its greatest strengths.
Erected by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 28.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Danbury, Connecticut series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 41° 23.495′ N, 73° 27.232′ W. Marker is in Danbury, Connecticut, in Fairfield County. Marker is at the intersection of Deer Hill Avenue and West Street, on the right when traveling north on Deer Hill Avenue. Located in front of Danbury City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 155 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury CT 06810, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 19th & 20th Century Immigrants (here, next to this marker); Early Arrivals (here, next to this marker); Farming & Agriculture (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Monumental Moments (about 400 feet away); The Sporting Life (about 500 feet away); Inventions & Innovations (about 600 feet away); Danbury Firsts (about 700 feet away); Danbury Women of Note (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danbury.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2014, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 623 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 25, 2014, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.