Immigrants
The Gilded Age for New York was defined by the boom of immigrants. New York was the "welcome mat" for the nation, being set right on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. People from a good majority of Europe, Africa, and even Asia rushed in, arriving at the newly opened Ellis Island (1900). Since a majority of immigrants only wanted a better life than at home, a good majority stayed in the city. The contrast between the new immigrants and the seasoned Americans was tense. Nativists did not like how hard immigrants tried to preserve their culture. Often times, because of this, the immigrants would stay in their own neighborhood blocks and streets. People quickly began realizing where each group belonged in the town, and social and ethnic boundaries were put in place.
German
Germans had been coming to the United States ever since the nation's founding, but during the Gilded Age, the rate of their arrival significantly increased. The "third wave" of Germans began in 1880, and included a total of 1.8 million Germans arriving in town. At their peak, German-Americans made up a third of the town's population. "Kleindeutschland", or little Germany, was where a vast majority of German-Americans settled in town. It was located east of the Bowery, north of Division Street, and south of 14th Street along the East River. They for the most part kept to themselves, staying around their section of the city. However, toward the turn of the century, they started to move to 10th, 11th, 13th, and 17th ward. These parts of the town were around 64% German.
Germans had been coming to the United States ever since the nation's founding, but during the Gilded Age, the rate of their arrival significantly increased. The "third wave" of Germans began in 1880, and included a total of 1.8 million Germans arriving in town. At their peak, German-Americans made up a third of the town's population. "Kleindeutschland", or little Germany, was where a vast majority of German-Americans settled in town. It was located east of the Bowery, north of Division Street, and south of 14th Street along the East River. They for the most part kept to themselves, staying around their section of the city. However, toward the turn of the century, they started to move to 10th, 11th, 13th, and 17th ward. These parts of the town were around 64% German.