The increased affluence of Greek-Americans since their first migration to the United States has generally resulted in their mobilization into the middle- and higher-income classes of American society. As with most immigrant ethnic groups, this has led to an assimilation of Greek culture and identity with the greater American culture. Nonetheless, many Greek Americans continue to recognize their cultural roots, even if only in a fused form of Greek and American culture.
In 1528 a Greek named Theodorus arrived with the Spaniards at Tarpon Springs, Florida. He was the first greek to land in America. Thereafter, until the 1880s, Greek immigration to the United States was minimal. However, by the 1890s, Greek immigration increased significantly due to the precarious economic conditions in Greece. However, only about 15,000 immigrants had entered the United States by the end of the nineteenth century. Rather, the mass influx of Greek immigrants occurred at the turn of the century and ended in 1917 when the U.S. entered World War I. During this period, almost half a million Greeks entered the country. Thereafter, approximately 70,000 Greeks emigrated to the United States until the doors of immigration closed in 1924. Since World War II, and especially after 1966 when the immigration laws were changed to allow easier entrance for the relatives of persons already here, over 235,000 Greeks have immigrated to the United States .
Generally lacking technical and English-language skills, Greek immigrants preferred to live in cities where they could find jobs, be paid weekly, and seek out the company of other Greeks. Although Greeks migrated to most parts of the United States, they located mainly in cities in the North and West Coast. New York City and Chicago attracted the largest number of immigrants. The Astoria section of Queens became the largest Greek settlement outside of Greece or Cyprus. In addition, many Greeks lo...