History Conversations REWIND | Immigration Stories: The Journey to Montgomery County

In 1850 less than 2% of Montgomery County’s population was foreign born and by 1960 it was still less than 5%. Today, more than 35% of the county’s residents are foreign born and even more speak at least one language besides English. How has Montgomery County become one of the most diverse counties in the United States? The answer lies in more than 200 years of immigration stories, soon to be featured in a new online exhibit hosted by Montgomery History. In this presentation, panelists will discuss general findings regarding the immigration history of the county as well as highlight specific immigration stories from the exhibit, based on oral history interviews, archival documents, U.S. census data, and other historical resources. The common themes behind these experiences include stories of love, war, political upheaval, and the pursuit of higher education and career opportunities, as told by immigrants from Ukraine, Latvia, El Salvador, India, Palestine, China, Congo, and many more.​​

Originally aired at the Spring 2023 History Conference.