How About a Touch of Irish American History Today?

I know I've shared how the Irish helped to truly help found and shape the Eastern seaboard and the South, but a new map from the Pew Research Center really helps to put it into perspective, it's part of their Modern Immigration Wave Brings 59 Million to U.S., Driving Population Growth and Change Through 2065 Study. 

Yup- now you know why St Patrick's Day is such a HUGE celebration in certain cities! LOL

If you know your history, this is a really great interactive map, and a great one to share with your kids, especially if you are homeschooling!

Here's the additional info about the map:

The nation’s first great influx of immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe. In 1850, the Irish were the largest immigrant group nationally and in most East Coast and Southern states. By the 1880s, Germans were the nation’s largest immigrant group in many Midwestern and Southern states. At the same time, changes to U.S. immigration policy had a great impact on the source countries of immigrants. In 1880, Chinese immigrants were the largest foreign-born group in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada. But with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese immigrants were prevented from entering the U.S. As a result, other immigrant groups rose to become the largest in those states.

By the early 20th century, a new wave of immigration was underway, with a majority coming from Southern Europe and Eastern Europe. By the 1930s, Italians were the largest immigrant group in the nation and in nine states, including New York, Louisiana, New Jersey and Nevada.

The composition of immigrants changed again in the post-1965 immigration era. By the 1980s, Mexicans became the nation’s largest immigrant group; by 2013, they were the largest immigrant group in 33 states. But other immigrant groups are represented as well. Chinese immigrants are the largest immigrant group in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Indians are the largest immigrant group in New Jersey. Filipinos are the largest immigrant group in Alaska and Hawaii.