Swiss Americans

Origins . The first Swiss person in what is now the territory of the United States was Theobald von Erlach (1541–1565) of Bern, a member of René de Laudonnière's expedition who disappeared in Florida. Swiss artisans, whose exact origins are unknown, participated in the construction of Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. 19th century In the 19th century, poverty was one of the main reasons for emigration from Switzerland. After the famine of 1817-1818, many Swiss municipalities attempted to replace long-standing mercenary service with organized and subsidized civilian emigration. 20th and 21st centuries parade in New York City From the beginning of the 20th century, the proportion of Swiss immigrants working in the third sector increased. An estimated 78.5% of immigrants returned to Switzerland between 1958 and 1974. In 1930, the West Coast population accounted for 24.4% of the Swiss and 6.7% of the country's overall population. In other regions, the differences between the proportions of the Swiss and overall American populations around 1930 were minimal, with the exception of the Southern United States, which had never been attractive to Swiss immigrants and was home to only 5.8% of them (compared to 30.9% of the American population). Although Swiss settlers also followed the general migration to the West, they were generally not among the pioneers of the American frontier. ==Population==

of Swiss Americans by county according to the 2000 Census Swiss Americans by numbers Swiss Americans by percentage of total population Communities settled by Swiss immigrants ==Swiss American historical societies==

• Beech Island Historical Society, a historical society in South Carolina dedicated to the preservation of Historic Beech Island, including the early Swiss settlement led by John Tobler. • Grundy County Swiss Historical Society, a historical society in Grundy County, Tennessee, site of former Swiss colony of Gruetli. • Highland Historical Society, a historical society centered in Highland, Illinois, site of one of the oldest Swiss settlements in the United States. It was founded in 1831 by Swiss pioneers from Sursee, Switzerland. • Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society, a genealogical society focused on the early Swiss and German settlers of Orangeburg, South Carolina. • Santa Clara Utah Historical Society, a historical Society dedicated to the preservation of an early Swiss Settlement in Utah. • Swiss American Historical Society – focuses on the involvement of the Swiss and their descendants in American life, aspects of Swiss American relations, and Swiss history. • Swiss Heritage Village & Museum – begun in 1985, it is currently the largest outdoor museum in northern Indiana. It is located in Berne, Indiana. • Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association – consists of descendants of the Mennonites who immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine in the 1870s. It has EIN 23-7332783 as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. • The Swiss Center of North America includes an extensive list of Swiss clubs. It has EIN 39-1982514 because of status as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity; in 2024 it claimed total revenue of $122,276 and total assets of $122,276. • The Descendants of Swiss Settlers, founded in 2019, honors the legacy and achievements of Swiss men and women who settled in North America prior to March 5, 1798, which marks the end of the Old Swiss Confederacy. It has EIN 88-2853635 as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. ==Notable people==