Immigration to Northampton (1880-1920)

By Sophie Combs (2022)

Photograph of a wooden chest with its lid open. The exterior of the chest is painted black with the name "Michael Garvey" written on it. The interior of the lid is unpainted wood. Inside the chest is painted or wrapped in a orange and white floral print. — Wooden chest brought by Michael William Garvey when he emigrated from Cahersiveen, Ireland to America in 1866 at 28 years old. Historic Northampton (ID no. 2002.5.1).

Introduction

Between 1880 and 1920, Northampton’s population grew by 82%. Much of the increase was due to a rising immigrant population. By 1920 a total of 38% of the population was first or second generation immigrants.

A Wave of Immigration

Between 1880 and 1920, the population of Northampton grew, in part, to accommodate arrivals from foreign countries. According to U.S. Census records, the city population rose from 11,965 (in 1880) to 18,554 (in 1900), to 21,761 (in 1920). During this period, the percentage of first- or second-generation immigrants living in Northampton increased substantially. In 1880, 24.51% of Northampton residents were first- or second-generation immigrants, and by 1920, this percentage was 37.55%.

Northampton, Massachusetts, total population according to the U.S. Census and % increase

1880	11,965
1900	18,554	55%
1920	21,761	17%

A graph showing the number of immigrants in Northampton by country from 1880-1920. Irish immigration peaked in 1900 and steadily decreased after. Canadian immigration rose drastically from 1880 to 1900 and afterward continued steadily. Polish immigration drastically increased in 1900 after very little immigration prior. German immigration stayed relatively stable and low throughout the time period charted. Russian, Italian, and Lithuanian immigration began rising around 1900 after little immigration prior, but remained little during the time period charted. — “First- or second-generation” immigrants refers to people born in a foreign country and/or people with one or both parents from a foreign country. The statistics for first-generation and second-generation immigrants were calculated by counting Northampton residents who were born in the United States and/or had one or both parents born in the United States, then subtracting from total Northampton residents.

Who Came to Northampton?

The following statistics represented in graphs and tables were calculated from census records for the years 1880, 1900, and 1920 in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is well established by immigration historians that census recorders regularly undercount low-income and/or non-native populations for various reasons including language barriers, inadequate knowledge of the community, and discrimination. These statistics can, however, offer a broad idea of who came to Northampton and when.

Countries of Origin

From these census records, it is clear that the Irish community in Northampton began to grow in the 1840s and was well-established by 1880. It grew continually until 1900. Immigration from Canada took off a few decades later than immigration from Ireland, rising sharply between 1880 and 1900. Polish individuals and families came to Northampton in greater numbers between the years 1900 and 1920.

Chart showing the percentage of immigrants in Northampton by country in 1880-1920. English, German, Russian, Italian and Lithuanian immigrants stayed under 0.1% of the population throughout the time period charted. Polish immigrants went from 0% to nearly 0.1% in 1920, after an increase in immigration beginning around 1900. In 1880, Canadian immigrants were 1% of the population. This number continued to increase until it peaked at 1900, at nearly 0.2%. The population then began to steadily decrease, to 0.15% by 1920. Irish immigrants made up nearly 0.35% in 1880 but steadily decreased throughout the time period charted. By 1920, they were only just under 0.2%. — Note: The graph refers to first- and second-generation immigrants.

According to records in Historic Northampton’s oral history collection, most Polish immigrants chose to settle in the neighboring towns of Hatfield and Hadley. As such, the number of Polish people residing in Northampton can be considered an underrepresentation of the Polish community in Hampshire County at large.

Over time, the top countries of origin represented in Northampton were Ireland, Canada, Poland, England, Germany, Russia, Italy, Lithuania, Scotland, and Austria. Immigrants came to Northampton from over 50 countries and territories including, in small numbers, those from Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bohemia, Chile, China, Cuba, Greece, India, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Syria, Sweden, Turkey, the West Indies, and Venezuela.

Black-and-white photographic portrait of a couple. Both the woman (left) and the man (right) stand on a small fur carpet. In the background the beginning of an ornate stair railing can be seen. The woman has her dark hair in an updo and is wearing a black dress cinched at the waist with puffy sleeves. From the shoulders to the top of the neck on the dress is white lace. The woman has her hands on her sides, with one holding a flower. The man is in a black suit and tie with a white undershirt and cuffs. He wears dress pants and black shoes. He has a prominent mustache and thinning hair. He is holding something in one of his hands. — Rosina and Giovanni Stramesi, 1905. Giovanni was a weaver and came to the U.S. from Italy just before the turn of the century. He was working in Northampton at the mills in 1903 when Rosina Comiglio came to the U.S. and they married in Northampton. Historic Northampton (ID no. 1978.126.10).

Photograph of the shoulder of a dress. The dress is a yellowed white with floral lace designs. — Blouse made and worn by Italian immigrant Rosina Comiglio Stramesi. Historic Northampton (ID no. 1978.126.38.15).

Country of Origin:	# of People:	% of Population:
Canada – 1880	1359	11.36%
Canada – 1900	3197	17.25%
Canada – 1920	3262	15.00%
Ireland – 1880	4019	33.59%
Ireland – 1900	4718	25.46%
Ireland – 1920	4213	19.37%
Poland – 1880	6	0.05%
Poland – 1900	312	1.68%
Poland – 1920	2012	9.25%
England – 1880	561	4.69%
England – 1900	1048	5.66%
England – 1920	1015	4.67%
Germany – 1880	358	2.98%
Germany – 1900	662	3.57%
Germany – 1920	663	3.05%
Russia – 1880	2	0.02%
Russia – 1900	387	2.09%
Russia – 1920	806	3.71%
Italy – 1880	14	0.14%
Italy – 1900	152	0.82%
Italy – 1920	600	2.76%
Lithuania – 1880	0	0%
Lithuania – 1900	2	0.01%
Lithuania – 1920	366	1.68%
Scotland – 1880	106	0.89%
Scotland – 1900	282	1.52%
Scotland – 1920	289	1.33%
Austria – 1880	2	0.02%
Austria – 1900	71	0.38%
Austria – 1920	305	1.40%

Resources

Wayne E. Phaneuf and Joseph Carvalho III, Polish Heritage: A History of a Proud Community in Western Massachusetts. The Springfield Republican, 2017.

Historic Northampton Oral History Collection. Three examples: Alba Fiorentino discusses her parents’ emigration from Italy, (1979.32.1); Laure Dragon describes the French enclave (1976.152); Jack August discusses Jewish immigration (1976.107).