History of East Boston Immigration

History of East Boston Immigration. . , Latin America and the Caribbean , 1900s - The second half of the 20th Century has seen a steady rise in population from all the countries of Central and South America, Mexico and the islands of the Caribbean., Italy , 1900s-2000s - The largest wave of immigrants in the early 20th Century came from Italy. In 1925, East Boston was 75 percent first or second generation Italian., Southeast Asia and the World , 1970's - Our Southeast Asian community has ground wince that war there. As we enter the 21st century, East Boston continues to be an attractive home for people from all over the world., European Jews , 1870's - 1910s - Fleeing persecution, Jews came from Russia and Germany. At the turn of the 20th Century, East Boston had the largest Jewish community in New England., Scandinavia , 1870s - 90s Also fleeing crop failures in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, many stayed as long as the maritime industries were here, but they were the first wave to mostly move inland., Massachusetts Indians , Before 1620 - The five islands that now make up East Boston were used as hunting and fishing grounds.Canada , 1860s - The switch from sail to steam and metal hulled ships created an industrial boom in East Boston. Many Canadians from the Eastern Provinces came to fill the jobs created., England , 1620 - 1834 - The colonists used the islands for common pasture and as a popular picnic area. The British army had a camp at Belmont Square before 1775., Ireland , 1840s-50s Fleeing famine, the Irish were the first great wave of immigrants to fill the newly laid-out neighborhood. They built Holy Redeemer Church in 1857. Meridian St. was the Kennedy family's first home in America., A Community of Caring , History of Our Block , Trinity Settlement Homes, Jeffries Point Immigration Center, The Immigrants Home, Lyman School , The first branch library in America, St. John's Episcopal Church , First building on the site of this parking lot., Paris St. Gymnasium , First Indoor Municipal Gymnasium in America., Temple Ohel Jacob , Stood on the site of this parking lot from 1907 until destroyed by fire in 1973., The White Building , Precursor to the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center