Arab immigrants began arriving in sizable numbers
during the 1880's. It is estimated that nearly three million Americans trace
their roots to an Arab country. The 1990
Arab Americans are found in every state, but more than
two thirds of them live in just ten states. The three metropolitan areas of Los
Angeles, Detroit, and New York are home to one-third of the population. Since
the late 19th century, New York has been a port of entry for Arabic-speaking
immigrants, and for decades that city remained the community's cultural and
commercial center. While New York and neighboring New Jersey remain a focus for
new arrivals, southern California has become the preferred destination for new
Arab immigrants.
By far the most concentrated areas of Arab American
settlement, however, are in southeastern Michigan, especially the distinctly
Arabic neighborhoods in the city of Dearborn. Michigan's vibrant expanse of
ethnic, civic, and religious institutions have made it the new cultural and
political magnet for the community nationwide. Unlike anywhere else in the
country, Arab Americans make up 20% of Dearborn's population and more than 40%
of the students enrolled in public schools.
Arab Americans are employed in all major occupation
groups, but 72% work in managerial, professional, technical, sales, or
administrative jobs. As an ethnic group, they value education and have a
higher-than-average percentage (36%) who hold bachelor's degrees. The
propensity of Arab Americans to be business owners and professionals translates
into a corresponding median income ($39,580 in 1990) that also surpasses the
national average. However, some new arrivals struggle economically, resulting
in a poverty rate of some 10%.
Contrary to popular
assumptions or stereotypes, the sizable majority of Arab Americans are
native-born, and nearly 82% are citizens. While all Arab countries have sent
emigrants to the
The religious make-up
of Arab Americans is as different as the origins of the group:
