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Facts and figuresThe United States of America-born Community Historical background.
The beginning
Recording of American immigrants and visitors was not carried out in the 18th century nor was it in the 19th century, despite census figures which were dubious at best. Many Americans changed their national origins to be accepted in the work force and became either ‘Irish or English’ and quite often ‘Canadian’ as part of that subterfuge. On the heels of the anti-Australian cries in the Californian press, and the resentment towards Australians because some were alleged to have been involved in murders on the goldfields, but more like they were used as scapegoats, the Americans arriving in Australia tried to hide their nationality fearing reprisals from locals. The Australian press covered the Californian riots against the Australians in great detail and so, Americans were viewed with suspicion by some upon arrival.
The figures below only indicate the census taking of 1901, but on one field alone at Beechworth there were said to be several thousand Americans. The history of Ballarat would also attest to the huge numbers of Americans on the goldfields, large enough to mount the California Brigade which took the first shots at the Eureka Stockade.
North Americans have had contact with Australia since the 18th Century. The first Americans to land in Australia were officers in the British Navy aboard the Endeavour with Captain James Cook in 1770. During the first 20 years of the New South Wales colony's existence, trade links were developed almost exclusively with North America, and the rum trade flourished.
In the ensuing decades Americans were drawn to Australia to participate in various enterprises such as the gold fields, freight and transport, telegraph, rural industries, whaling expeditions, minerals and mining, the arts, journalism and politics.
By 1901 the Census recorded 7,448 United States of America-born persons in Australia. Many American business people came to Australia over the next five decades although few chose to settle permanently. Between 1945 and 1960, however, more than 18,000 Americans settled in Australia and in 1971 the Census recorded there were 39,035 United States of America-born persons in Australia.
Since the 1970s there has been a steady increase in the United States of America-born population in Australia, reaching a total of 43,674 by 1991. The United States of America-born population is widely distributed throughout Australia with the majority residing in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.
Americans have settled well into the Australian way of life. While their major religion is Christianity they also subscribe to other religions such as the Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist and Baha'i faiths.
The population of the United States of America-born was 49,528 in 1996. Later figures, although unofficial, would push the numbers to the 100,000 mark after a major influx of Americans, particularly in 1999.
The community today
The latest Census in 2001 recorded 53,720 United States of America-born persons in Australia, an increase of 8 per cent from the 1996 Census. The 2001 distribution by State and Territory showed New South Wales had the largest number with 19,230 followed by Victoria (11,350), Queensland (9,990) and Western Australia (6,040). Age and sex
The median age of the United States of America-born in 2001 was 38.3 years compared with 46.0 years for all overseas-born and 35.6 years for the total Australian population. The age distribution showed 14.7 per cent were aged 0-14 years, 12.4 per cent were 15-24 years, 36.5 per cent were 25-44 years, 29.2 per cent were 45-64 years and 7.2 per cent were 65 and over.
Of the United States of America-born in Australia, there were 27,530 males (51.2 per cent) and 26,190 females (48.8 per cent). The sex ratio was 105.1 males per 100 females.
Qualifications
In 2001, of United States of America-born people aged 15 years and over, 65.5 per cent held some form of educational or occupational qualification compared with 46.2 per cent for all Australians. Among the United States of America-born, 51.1 per cent had higher qualifications* and 7.7 per cent had Certificate level qualifications. Of the United States of America-born with no qualifications, 27.6 per cent were still attending an educational institution.
* Higher qualification includes Postgraduate Degree, Graduate Diploma & Graduate Certificate and Bachelor Degree Advanced Diploma & Diploma Level. Employment
Among United States of America-born people aged 15 years and over, the participation rate in the labour force was 69.4 per cent and the unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent. The corresponding rates in the total Australian population were 63.0 and 7.4 per cent respectively.
Of the 29,440 United States of America-born who were employed, 70.8 per cent were employed in a Skilled occupation, 19.4 per cent in Semi-Skilled and 9.8 per cent in Unskilled. The corresponding rates in the total Australian population were 52.6, 28.9 and 18.6 per cent respectively. Citizenship
At the 2001 Census, the rate* of Australian Citizenship for the United States of America-born in Australia was 64.3 per cent. The rate for all overseas-born was 75.1 per cent.
* Includes adjustments for people not meeting the residential requirement for citizenship, temporary entrants to Australia and underenumeration at the Census. Language
The main languages spoken at home by United States of America-born people in Australia were English (93.0 per cent), Spanish (0.8 per cent), and Italian (0.5 per cent).
Of the 3,520 United States of America-born who spoke a language other than English at home, 91.7 per cent spoke English very well or well and 6.8 per cent spoke English not well or not at all. Religion
At the 2001 Census the major religions amongst United States of America-born were Western Catholic (11,320 persons), Anglican (4,380 persons) and Baptist (2,840 persons).
Of the United States of America-born, 21.9 per cent stated 'No Religion'. This was higher than that of the total Australian population (15.5 per cent) Ancestry
In the 2001 Census, the top three ancestries that United States of America-born persons reported were, American (14,610), English (4,390) and Irish-English (3,840).
Compiled from the Federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Australia, and excerpts from E. Potts, Young America and Australian Gold, University of Qld Press. 1974
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