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Belgian Americans are Americans who are of Belgian descent. According to the 2010 census, there are 361,667 Americans who identify themselves as partially or fully of Belgian ancestry. While the first natives of the Southern Netherlands arrived in America in the 17th century, most are descended from immigrants of the 19th and 20th centuries. Subgroups of Belgian Americans include Flemish Americans. == History == During the 17th century, colonists from the Southern Netherlands (the area of modern-day Belgium) lived in several of the Thirteen Colonies of North America. Settlements already existed in New York—in Wallabout (Brooklyn), on Long Island and Staten Island—and New Jersey (Hoboken, Jersey City, Pavonia, Communipaw, and Wallkill). Later, other settlers moved into the Middle States. Many names are derived from the Walloon reformed immigrants who settled there and the Dutch versions of Walloon words used to describe a locale. There were also Southern Netherlands colonies in Connecticut, Delaware, and Pennsylvania established primarily by Walloons, many of whom arrived with the Dutch West India Company (founded by Willem Usselincx, a Fleming). In the 17th and 18th centuries many Belgians left their mark on American history, including Lord Baltimore (whose family in Flemish Belgium were aristocrats). Belgian officers also fought during the American Revolutionary War; these included Charles De Pauw (a Fleming who accompanied Lafayette to North America), Thomas Van Gaasbeck (who was an ancestor of the dutch domini Laurentius van Gaasbeek) , Jacques Rapalje, Anthony Van Etten and Johannes Van Etten. The first major wave of people from Belgium came to United States during the 19th century, looking for financial opportunity and a better life for their families (in common with other Western Europeans). Belgian immigrants were first registered in 1820; from then to 1910, 104,000 Belgians entered the U.S. and from 1910 to 1950, the number dropped to 62,000. Between 1847 and 1849 (when Belgium was plagued with disease and economic hardship), 6,000–7,000 Belgians a year arrived in the United States. During this era, most Belgians coming to the U.S. were farmers, farm workers or miners; craftspeople (such as carpenters, masons and cabinetmakers) or other skilled tradespeople (such as glass blowers and lace-makers). In later years (especially after the World Wars), many Belgians arrived in the United States seeking work in universities, laboratories and industry. From 1820 to 1970, about 200,000 Belgians settled in the United States. For every year since 1950, the immigration quota has remained fixed at 1,350; in 1981, Belgians represented no more than 0.4 percent of the foreign-born population.〔 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Belgian Americans」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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