What is the primary influential European immigrant group in Colorado?

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Pueblo has Bojons. That's what I think they call/called them. I think that means Polish, perhaps Slovic (eastern Europe) folks. Many came in to work at the Steel Mill.

Back in Baltimore I recall the derogatory term Bohunk for eastern Europeans. From Wiki:

The terms hunky and bohunk can be applied to various Slavic and Hungarian immigrants who moved to America from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The immigrants came en masse prior to the turn of the twentieth century (starting around 1880) seeking opportunity and religious freedom.

From the Pueblo Star Journal:

In the past 15-20 years, many have called the Eilers Neighborhood “Old Bojon Town” or “Bojon Town.” Though, the term “bojon” has long been considered a derogatory term for those of Slovenian descent.

Both terms were once considered derogatory but have gained some usage as shorthand or slang.

[TCHP]

Saw an article recently that the most commonly spoken language in CO behind English and Spanish is German. Germans have been immigrating here since the 1870s. In the last 70 years, they have come primarily as brides to military personnel who then bring families along with them. Are they the most influential....I guess it depends on how you define that.

Mexican are certainly the largest and fastest growing nationality currently. Influential...well they are filling jobs, opening businesses, and moving into politics, so they may be the most influential. The Spanish and Mexican influence in the state has existed since before it was part of the US, or Texas, or Kansas or any other territory that Colorado was originally disected from. We still see it is names of places, peaks, towns, and streets. Current biases generally fear their arrival and are becoming a catalyst that may finally drive reform in immigration law and conditions. This influence has existing here for 200 years and is continuing to this day.

There used to be large number of eastern and southern Europeans living along the Front range from Trinidad to Superior with large concentrations in Pueblo. Low on education and poor in English skills, they took the hard labor jobs in the coal mines and steel mills where they weren't locked out or threatened by the WASP population. Some of the most violent labor conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries took place in the US in general and CO in particular with this population during this time. Look up the Colorado Coal Wars for info. This created the motivation for huge increases in Organized Labor that resulted in child labor laws, 8 hour workday, non working weekends, etc. They also were responsible for some of the most violent gang activity outside of New York and Chicago took place in Pueblo and Denver during the 1920-30s which of course lead to all sorts of gun laws and laws that evolved into the RICO statues. Look up Carlino-Smaldone wars. Would that be considered influential...possibly.

[Summerz88]

This video is long, but quite interesting.
Lots of history.



https://youtu.be/2UFZTsKnEd4?si=Mpfi-wr5m4uKDxrd

[pekemom]

I am English, Dutch, Native American….German and Polish
My husband is Yugoslavian….German and Polish

[history nerd]

The west isn't really like that in the same way the east and Midwest are. Western states are much more influenced by

A) the pioneer/gold rush experience
B) Latin Americans both pre-Mexican American War, and in later waves of immigration as well as Asian immigration.