Why Are There So Many Lithuanians In Chicago?

[@danielhughes4230]

I am Lithuanian and proud. Just found out my best friend, who is Mexican and speaks Spanish fluently, took a D.N.A. test and is 50% Ashkenazi Jewish Lithuanian. No wonder why we are like brothers.

[@brouser4580]

Latvian here And resident of Chicago as well

[@hunting4honeys]

I moved to Chicago form the UK a few months ago, and was very pleased to find Lithuanian dark bread at my local shop! (unfortunately it has been Americanised and is full of sugar, and low on carroway flavours) Back home it is quite common as we had a number of specialist bakeries. Now I know why

[@brandonconsevage6524]

Oh i know the tonys in irving park (great selection though) Lithuanian bread is like that. Still good but americanized

[@greenmachine5600]

go to a russian store and you should get a less sugary bread

[@streips]

I am Latvian and grew up in Chicago. Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle," which was released in 1906, has a Lithuanian as its main character. Also, when I was growing up, the Lithuanian community was centered on the south side of Chicago, with the lake on one side and just about the worst slums you could imagine on the other three sides. I don't know how that worked out for them. Unlike Lithuanians, Latvians don't really like each other too much, so our families scattered all over the greater Chicagoland area. One last point. The name of the Lithuanian American newspaper cited in the video, Draugas, means "Friend." Now you know.

[@richardcharette461]

My Great Grandparents immigrated from Lithuania to Chicago in the late 1800s. Pretty cool to find out why.

[@dovydaspetrauskas1223]

Very true. The Chicagoland Metropolitan Area is a hotspot for so many European immigrant groups like Lithuanians,Poles,Serbians,Bulgarians,Ukrainians etc... Especially in the suburban areas of Chicago. The area is like a "Little Lithuania" . You can get various Lithuanian products from stores, bakeries and restaurants. Not as big as the Polish population but still relevant.

[@beandrag9019]

I’m in Milwaukee and I’m part Lithuanian! It’s less than an hour away from Chicago. I’d love to go to the Lithuanian community center🇱🇹

[@Tadas_rackauskas]

Could you do a video about Brazilian Lithuanians? I have always been so curious, especially considering how many they are

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Hey thanks for the comment! Yes I’m planning on it. I’m surprised it’s even a thing! I’ll get to it in a month or two

[@ericortega1745]

I have never seen a Brazilian Lithuanian.

[@fidenemini111]

@@ericortega1745 I had a chance to meet one in Trakai castle. Young man (17 or 18 y.o.). We had a short conversation. His Lithuanian was with some accent but still fully understandable. But he looked nothing like Lithuanian :). Some of his ancestry was clearly local Barazilian. Still Lithuanian!

[@Randomdive]

@@ericortega1745 In São Paulo, Lasar Segall was a prominent example of a Brazilian Lithuanian, as well as the Klabin family who started a packaging company and even have a neighborhood named after them (Chacara Klabin). There's also the architect Warchavchik who built the Casa Modernista in SP.

[@Randomdive]

They were mostly Lithuanian Jews who escaped pogroms in Imperial Russia if I'm not mistaken

[@PawnshopFlexin]

Thank you for this video, im lithuanian and im from 110th and western on the southside, still in the city!

[@THE_ELÐEN_LORÐ]

Hello Chicago Lithuanian descent people! I am of Polish descent so I send my regards!

[@TheZombaslaya]

Yeah Chicago's really the "Eastern European" city in the US. It's got the largest population of polish people outside of Warsaw, as well as a whole neighborhood called "Ukrainian Village." Tons of immigrants from all over Eastern Europe , mostly polish people, Ukrainians and Russians though.

[@SV-kr9fu]

Currently, I believe that London, U.K. beats Chicago in having the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw. Nowadays, the majority of "Polish" in Chicago (and the suburbs) are "Americans" (born & raised in the U.S. and have never been to Poland).

[@SV-kr9fu]

@Cheapzer : That's good. I also went to Poland with a few of my friends as well. But out of 5 of my "Polish-American" friends that went on the trip, only one could speak Polish, somewhat, fluently.

[@Turciusrajone]

@@SV-kr9fu Isn't Southampton the capital of Eastern Europe?

[@SV-kr9fu]

@@Turciusrajone : I am not sure about that, since I am not British and have never lived in the U.K. (I only visited U.K. a few times). According to the internet, based on 2011 U.K. Census, Boston, Lincolnshire was the town with highest percentage of Eastern European residents in England & Wales.

[@umad5671]

Define Polish in USA U mean American claiming to be polish based on ancestors? Yeah they are Americans not Polish

[@222Deima]

As Lithuanian living close to Lemont, I approve this video haha

[@lisaharris8165]

I am 1st generation American - my grandparents/mom were sponsored during the Displaced Persons act and relocated to Brighton Park/ Marquette Park - were I was raised all my life.

[@ernestonwona6070]

I'm from Chicago and I am used to meeting Polish, Irish, Russian and Lithuanian people. I even had an assistant principal who was Lithuanian. Not surprising when you live in the midwest.

[@michaeldawson9132]

My parents divorced when I was young and my mother, unfortunately, moved us to Texas. I did not meet another Lithuanian until I was in high school and had to convince my friends that Lithuania was even a real place. Chicago will always be my home.

[@draugami]

Since you are from Canada (as am I), you should do a video of Lithuanians in Canada. Teviške Žiburai is the weekly Lithuanian newspaper from Toronto.

[@JimM-zs8ul]

My maternal grandparents emigrated from LT to the US around 1915, that part of my history is a bit murky. I do know that both ended up at the Swift packing plant in Omaha. Neither learned English but worked extremely hard to provide a good life for my mother, and for her many grandchildren. I have always been grateful for this. Grandma Sophie purchased a US savings Bond for each of her grandchildren when they were born, as a result I was able to put a down payment on my first house, then it just moves forward from there. I will always be eternally grateful for their efforts and hard work. I went to the old neighborhood in Omaha a few years ago, and it has changed substantially, unfortunately. I visited Lithuania a couple of months ago, and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Make the trip if you can, you'll learn a lot about yourself and the people that came before you. I came away very proud to be half LT and maybe a bit humbled as well.

[@mindyhuskey3384]

My Great Great Grandparents came over from Lithuania in the first wave at the end of the 1800s. My Great Great Grandpa was a miner, and I have one of his ribbons from 1898 for the Mine Workers Of America and another one for the Lithuanians Society for Brotherly Charity of St Casimir from the 3rd of July 1904." I was born in Cicero, Chicago in 1973 and when I was a young child, I remember Cicero was still heavily Lithuanian. It was spoken in the streets and in the stores. My Grandma, Great Grandma and Great Great Grandma are long gone now, but I remember them speaking Lithuanian and cooking some of the best comfort food. As an adult now, I wish they were still around, so that I could better learn and appreciate my heritage and the Lithuanian culture. Thank you very much for sharing your video!

[@amuyize]

I have a similar experience and I'm studying abroad in Lithuania in two weeks. Visit if you can someday!

[@PC4USE1]

IDK about the North side but the 'strongholds" of Lithuanians was in Bridgeport and Marquette Park. I had many Lithuanian friends in Chicago Lawn/Marquette Park area. Last i knew,Lemont was the new "Lithuanian "enclave. The Chicago Areas are either Hispanic or African American these days. My Uncle's wife was Lituanian and lived near 69th and Damen for many years.

[@koreanature]

Wow... !!! My best friend, It's always great. I wish you every day of your development. Have a happy day!

[@maxklein1614]

One of my Lithuanian friend's family here in Chicago has a summer house in Union Pier, MI. Her mother told me that part of the Lake Michigan shoreline, around the Indiana/Michigan border, is or used to be referred to as the Lithuanian Riviera.

[@MrCliprater]

Beverley shores (surrounded by Indiana Dunes Ntl Park) and Michigan City also had significant numbers of Lithuanians, mostly transplants from Chicago.

[@doseckes3183]

both of my father's parents were from vilnius. as i understand they both worked in the stockyards for some time . according to my aunt their experience was similar to the horror that Jurgis Rudkus from the book "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair lived. it says something about humans that there have to be laws to protect workers from hellish work conditions.

[@GrandAncientOak]

Very interesting video. Every single time I go to a big city my soul feels like it’s being crushed.

[@edgardale4501]

Great video. You should do one about Latvians, especially in Philadelphia where the Society of Free Latvians (aka Letts) has existed since 1892.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

I would, but the channel is focused on Lithuania/Lithuanians. But thanks for the suggestion, it sounds interesting!

[@edgardale4501]

@@LithuaniaExplained I suggested the idea because Latvians are the only other people in the Baltic language group that have survived. When I hear Lithuanian I wonder why I can’t understand, but I do know that Lithuanians jokingly call us Latvians žirgu galvas.

[@martso9288]

@@edgardale4501 i've read an article about that, there are many theories, some are the fact the bay of Riga looks like a horses' head and the estonian island is its eye, one other theory is, that back in the 17th century young lithuanians, living close to the border mainly, would go work for latvians. Buf due to the lithuanians being largely uneducated, their latvian bosses would supposedly roast them zirgu galvas, as an insult for some reason, and many more theories were listed. But they are just that, theories, as no real concrete evidence was linked to them having a shred of truth.

[@margaretkelly9878]

Yes. I attended Maria High School; founded by a Lithuanian order of nuns. This is right across the street from Marquette Park where that structure you showed is. It has since been sold off to a charter school. The nuns didn't like us Irish! The neighborhood help strong but most moved out to the southwest suburbs.

[@danrook5757]

I visited my uncle in a hospital in Chicago run by Lithuanian nuns, he died there, but was happy to be among his own. I miss my Dede.

[@sirenloud]

I always wondered this my neighborhood of Brighton Park they still serve mas in the language of Lithuanian

[@pauliusk6969]

Thanks to these guys who go outside of LT. In case of another russification of Lithuania, these guys will save our heritage!

[@honeycomblord9384]

As someone in the area, I actually know quite a few people with Lithuanian parents.

[@karaliusking6833]

Hey look, it’s me!

[@fidenemini111]

Shit, who could unexpect.

[@Maria65652]

Lithuanians moved to lots of places , a year or so after 1911 my Great grandparents brought their first born ( my Nan) from Lithuania to the UK . Two of Gg's brothers lived here too . His sister Kate later wrote to him from Riga Latvia . So sad they never got to meet again after leaving Lithuania , South Lithuania shows up on my DNA ancestry .

[@DxGamer6767]

Cool video

[@1862x2]

LUZURNE PA has many Lithuanian families that were coal miners back in the day…Was not aware of Chicago having a Lithuanian community until your video. Although I remember someone saying that BELUSHI actors, John and James had Lithuanian roots and they’re from Chicago “apparently”

[@Milkpastasoup]

we lithuanians hide in plain sight. you could walk past hundreds in your lifetime and not even know it. and in the end, only the lithuanians will recognize those lithuanians because no matter how little of a non existent explanation there is for it, people can recognize their own without understanding how or why or even knowing who they are.

[@sirenloud]

this is true I'm Mexican-American I was in Mexico City past week and all the xpatsknew I was an American

[@fidenemini111]

Yep, we are masters of blending-in.

[@badmonkey2468]

I was suprised how big of a community they had when I went there

[@pluto6383]

I have never lived outside the US (I’ll be 22 later this year). From when I was 19 months old until I finished Kindergarten I lived in the Chicago area, whereas the rest of my life I’ve lived in New England. I’ve never met someone from Lithuania or another Baltic country, but after watching this I wonder if I would’ve met some Lithuanians had I stayed in Chicago for at least a few more years.

[@222Deima]

Probably, many Americans in Chicagoland has a story about how they know a Lithuanian 😂

[@pluto6383]

@@222Deima Most Europeans I do know I met through uni and work (only place in Europe I’ve personally been to is London), but I’ve met them in other places too. Last year I worked at the grocery store where everyone at my uni does their errands and foreign students are no exception. I’ve met Europeans from Ireland, UK, France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Ukraine and Russia, but never a Baltic country.

[@kingquinn3897]

Apparently there's a 'Little Chicago' in Lithuania!

[@m.a.t.a.s]

It clearly says in your picture the newspaper was founded in the year 1909, not 1919 3:30

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Thanks. That was a mistake.

[@m.a.t.a.s]

@@LithuaniaExplained No worries, good video regardless :)

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Thank you!

[@brandonconsevage6524]

Hey i am Lithuanian and in Chicago

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Cool!

[@jeffjones3145]

Same

[@kestutisi]

Labas!

[@brandonconsevage6524]

@@kestutisi labas, kaip sekasi?

[@kestutisi]

@@brandonconsevage6524 Neblogai. Kaip gyvenimas JAV?

[@lukepaul6256]

And then there is also Pennsylvania and California outside of Illinois where a lot of lithuanians are located

[@sticky9129]

My dad's side is full Lithuanian but I know zero about this language or culture. I'm in Illinois near Chicago.

[@souldoc123]

try to discover for yourself,and you will be surprised!

[@nevildenis4723]

What are the top postal services in Lithuania? Just curious 🤔

[@kajusbovainis3232]

There's basically only one. Lithuanian postal service (Lietuvos paštas). We also have post machines (basically You put what you want to send, pick a location with the nearest post machine to the place You are sending it to and forget it. Drivers come to pick up the packages and deliver them), Post machine service providers - "LP express", "Omniva", "DPD". But we also have FedEx(mainly for US packages). I hope I did well enough to explain :D

[@nevildenis4723]

@@kajusbovainis3232 Thank you. That was insightful 👌🏻

[@fidenemini111]

@@kajusbovainis3232 DPD in Lithuania completely switched to electric minivans.

[@timectrl]

I did not know this! It is quite interesting. also bruh 69th view

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Nice!

[@Rocketjay12]

And Chicagoans have Lithuanians to thank for Baltic Bakery! Best breads that aren't that crappy soft white junk.

[@josephkrizauskas1052]

Was Chicago Bears owner George Halas Lithuanian?

[@andriusambrutis343]

Wikipedia says 'Halas was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a family of Czech-Bohemian immigrants.' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Halas

[@fidenemini111]

Cool information! Though in the photo at 4:08 - may be (I could be wrong) Ukrainians but definitely not Lithuanians. Nevertheless very informative content.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

It was on the Lithuanian World Center's website so I just assumed it had a Lithuanian connection. But you're probably right since the LWC includes other cultures in their community events.

[@herisuryadi6885]

Random Recommendation Recommends this

[@williamtell5365]

You could expand the question and just say why so many eastern Europeans in Chicago. I went to graduate school in Chicago two decades ago, then the number of Poles, Lithuanians, Russians, and other eastern Europeans blew me away. And many were recent immigrants.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Good point! Being a Lithuania-focused channel, I focused on this specific group but yes, that is definitely worth mentioning!

[@drwho9319]

*polish. You spelled it wrong

[@williamtell5365]

@@LithuaniaExplained Sure, I cannot tell you the origins of why this started. The US has certain places where certain groups go. For example, huge numbers of Somalis in Minneapolis. Huge numbers of ethnic Norwegians in Seattle. Sometimes the reasons can be interesting, I'm certainly curious how Lithuanians became connected to Chicago. (Side note, my father is Swiss. He moved to the US before I was born. We lived in Vermont partly because he liked it as it felt like home a little )

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Yeah, immigrant populations in cities all have interesting stories. When I was in Ottawa and discovered so many Vietnamese restaurants, my friends there told me the big Vietnamese population there is due to the fact that the city took many refugees during the Vietnam war.

[@martso9288]

@@drwho9319 Polish refers to people, as a nation. Poles refers to people as persons, which what OP was trying to convey.

[@kaikaiser92]

see people from the 1800s are they still in Chicago? like Family's had kids

[@BFDT-4]

Because the Russian Empire treated Lithuanians, etc. like crap. So, like my Polish ancestors, they left for Chicago. Same for the Soviet Onion, treated people terribly, communism not being any part of that treatment (dictatorship was).

[@MChicago89]

Maybe because they are crap..

[@DeKevers]

Nice video! Not Lithuanian or American either.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Thank you! And neither am I 😂

[@DeKevers]

@@LithuaniaExplainedbalticcountries are so interesting though

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Definitely 😁

[@senismarsenis9678]

Yes, time to attend my religious mASS with fellow Littlealiens... Ugh...

[@MChicago89]

Not more than Serbians, Bulgarians and polish for sure

[@ippsofacto]

Been in Chicago my entire life and I've never seen, let alone met, a lithuanian

[@beandrag9019]

You probably have and just don’t know

[@Kuziai]

I live in Los Angeles, would never move to Shikago

[@eyeeyeoh]

Lithuanian Jews did not flee Russian rule. They escaped from anti-semitism in the Lithuanian countryside full of native Lithuanians.

[@fidenemini111]

Give us at least one example of this famous "anti-semitism in the Lithuanian countryside full of native Lithuanians". Eager to hear it. But with links to the sources, please.

[@danrook5757]

Let it go and move on

[@ramunejonaityte4160]

but for some reason he did not run to Russia.. run to the other side, as far as possible

[@zersky495]

Because even Chicago is better than Lithuanian