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The Irish in Omaha, Nebraska have constituted a major ethnic group throughout the history of the city, and continue to serve as important religious and political leaders. They compose a large percentage of the local population. In 2000 62,349 of the city's 390,112 residents claimed Irish roots on the U.S. Census.〔("Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Selected Population Group: Irish (050, 081)" ), United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 5/7/08.〕 The Irish were the third largest ethnic group in South Omaha in 1900, with 1,073 out of 26,001 residents claiming Irish ancestry.〔Dillingham, W.P. (1911) ''Reports of the Immigration Commission.'' The Dillingham Commission of the 61st United States Congress. p 343.〕 By 1909 that area of the city claimed 2,250 out of their 30,000 residents were of Irish descent.〔Dillingham, W.P. (1911) p 344.〕 ==19th century== "The first church of any denomination in Nebraska was a Catholic church built in Omaha by Irish immigrants in 1856."〔Hickey, D.R., Wunder, S.A. and Wunder, J.R. (2007) ''Nebraska Moments.'' University of Nebraska Press. p 117.〕 Around this time a community of Irish settlers inhabited an area known as Gophertown, located north of the town of Saratoga and south of the town of Florence. The area was named for the dugout homes the immigrants had made in the wide-open plains of present-day North Omaha.〔Barstow, D. (2002) ''A Dirty Town''. Caxton Press. p 44.〕 The Irish have comprised a major component of Omaha's immigrant community since the 1860s.〔Larsen and Cotrell. (1997) ''The Gate City: A history of Omaha.'' University of Nebraska Press. p 160.〕 Coming to the city in large numbers to build the Union Pacific Railroad starting in 1864, many Irish immigrants stayed to work in the railroads and took jobs as laborers in the wholesaling district. As many as 10,000 Irish laborers worked out of Omaha along the Union Pacific lines as they sprawled across the Western United States.〔Lamb, B. (2001) ''Booknotes: Stories from American History.'' PublicAffairs. p 142.〕 Few had come directly from Ireland, instead arriving in Omaha via New York City, Boston, and other cities in the Eastern United States. During the twelfth and final meeting of the Nebraska Territory Legislature a group of 31 Irish leaders in the community promoted George Francis Train becoming a Senator for the new state because he had, "advocated so long the cause of Irish nationality."〔Morton, J.S., Watkins, A., Miller, G.L.. (1918) ''History of Nebraska.'' Western Publishing and Engraving Company. p 374.〕 In 1863 Edward and Mary Creighton donated land to the local Catholic bishop, the Right Rev. James O'Gorman, to build a convent on the banks of the Missouri River. The Sisters of Mercy opened an academy and schools soon afterwards. The Creightons also donated land for a cathedral which was dedicated to St. Philomena.〔Shea, J.G. (1892) ''History of the Catholic Church in the United States.'' p 655.〕 O'Gorman, also Irish, died and was buried in Omaha at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in 1874.〔("Calvary Catholic Cemetery Omaha" ), Retrieved 5/11/08.〕 In the 1870s and 1880s a major neighborhood for the local Irish community was the Near North Side. Josie McCullough, who grew up there during that period, wrote about the neighborhood saying, "In that neighborhood Swedish, Bohemian, Italian, Irish and Negro children all contributed to the process of Americanization."〔Larsen, Cotrell, Dalstrom and Dalstrom. (2007) ''The Upstream Metropolis: ". University of Nebraska Press. p. 163.〕 They also lived in an "uninviting floodplain" south of downtown which was later known as Little Italy.〔Larsen, Cotrell, Dalstrom and Dalstrom. (2007) p. 206.〕 James E. Boyd was an Irish-born politician in Omaha who served two terms as mayor in the 1880s, and was Nebraska Governor in the 1890s. In 1885 James O'Connor became the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Diocese of Omaha. Born in Queenstown, Ireland, he died in Omaha in 1890. When the Omaha Stockyards were established in 1887, the first employees were foreign-born Irish who moved directly to South Omaha.〔Dillingham, W.P. (1911) p 341.〕 That year at the Nebraska Republican Party's annual convention in Lincoln, the delegates created a statement showing "the usual approval of the struggle for Irish home rule". The Nebraska Democratic Party presented a similar statement in its platform, too. 〔Morton, J.S., Watkins, A., Thomas, A.O. (1918) ''History of Nebraska.'' p 611.〕 Emmet Street in the Kountze Place neighborhood was probably named for Robert Emmet during this period.〔("Omaha street names" ), Douglas County Historical Society. Retrieved 5/11/08.〕 In the 1890s the American Protective Association singled out Omaha's and targeted them in a campaign to drive immigrants out of the Midwestern United States and the Irish out of public office.〔Larsen, Cotrell, Dalstrom and Dalstrom. (2007) p 209.〕 By then Irish Americans lived throughout the city, and had assimilated to a large extent. They held an annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, and they moved into all levels of Omaha society, including politics and city government. Their acceptance in society benefited the Roman Catholic Church greatly.〔Larsen and Cotrell. (1997) ''The Gate City: A history of Omaha.'' University of Nebraska Press. p 161.〕 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「Irish in Omaha, Nebraska」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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