Immigration and Migration Patterns
Beaver County was built by the labor of many generations of people who moved here to begin a
new life. It began with the earliest pioneers who braved the wilderness and its dangers to clear the
land for farms, on which they built a foundation for raising their families. As the county became
industrialized, a variety of people came here to take jobs in the mills and businesses that kept growing
and increasing in number as companies came here to take advantage of the abundance of our natural
resources. At the turn of the 20th century, waves of immigrants from Italy and many Eastern
European countries flocked to the county to join the workforces of the large steel mills located
along the Ohio and Beaver Rivers. Immigrant labor continues today as new waves of immigrants
enter the county to make better lives for themselves and their families.
1770s - The first large group to cross the Alleghenies and settle here were the Scotch-Irish looking for land and new opportunity. German settlers begin arriving in large numbers drawn by the mining, brick-making and glass industries. They were the largest group during this period.
Early
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1820/1861 - With the establishment of the Underground Railroad, many escaped slaves passed through the county on their way to Canada. Others stayed and established lives here.
Between 1840/1860-The Irish Potato Famine drove a substantial number of Irish settlers to the county.
1865/1900 - In the post- Civil War period, a number of African-Americans began moving north into this area, mostly serving in domestic and general labor jobs.
1872/1877 - Chinese laborers were brought to Beaver Falls by the Beaver Falls Cutlery Company, numbering around 200, but were gone by 1877. The bodies of those who died here were exhumed and returned to China by Chinese agents in 1890.
1880/1920 - Italian immigration began as a trickle during the first two decades with a small group settling in Rochester. With the establishment of our heavy industries, the Italians became the most numerous immigrant group in the early years of the 20th century.
Ca. 1907/1945 - The Steel industry in both Midland and Aliquippa Woodlawn & West Aliquippa) attracted a wide range of immigrants from countries like Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, Croatia, Yugoslavia and other Baltic nations, and created company-planned housing for them. Eventually all countries of Eastern
and Middle Europe were represented.
1915/1960 - A large number
of African-Americans migrated
north looking for new
opportunities in the steel,
mining and railroad
industries that were in
desperate need of
laborers.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 40° 41.885′ N, 80° 17.842′ W. Marker is in Beaver, Pennsylvania, in Beaver County. Marker is on East End Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Beaver PA 15009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Labor Movement and Wagner Act (here, next to this marker); Growth And Decline 1946-1985 (here, next to this marker); A New Era Begins 1986-Present (here, next to this marker); Beaver Area Heritage Foundation (a few steps from this marker); Famous Athletes (a few steps from this marker); Military Service (a few steps from this marker); African Americans (a few steps from this marker); Women in Beaver County (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beaver.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
