PortugueseAmerican

Portuguese American is a demonym for an American of Portuguese origin or descent, including people whose families originated in Portugal as well as the Azores and Madeira. The term covers both recent arrivals and generations of descendants in the United States and is used alongside other ethnic identifiers.

Migration to the United States began in smaller numbers in colonial and 19th-century periods, but large-scale settlement occurred from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century. Portuguese immigrants were drawn by opportunities in fishing, canning, construction, and agriculture. Communities formed in coastal labor hubs, particularly in New England among Azorean and Madeiran immigrants, and among fishermen and cannery workers on the West Coast and in Hawaii.

Geographic distribution: The most substantial Portuguese American communities are in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, with concentrations in cities such as Providence, Fall River, and New Bedford, as well as in other parts of New England. Smaller but persistent communities exist in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Florida.

Culture and language: The community has preserved Catholic religious and social institutions, mutual aid associations, and festive traditions. Cuisine features dishes such as bacalhau (salt cod) and caldo verde, and social life often centers on churches, clubs, and cultural organizations. While Portuguese is still spoken among some families and older generations, English is predominant in daily life, with ongoing efforts to maintain linguistic and cultural ties through schools and festivals.