Poles in Chicago Chicago Polonia, refers to both immigrant Poles
and Americans of Polish heritage living in Chicago, Illinois.
They are a part of worldwide Polonia, the proper term for the
Polish Diaspora outside of Poland. Poles in Chicago have
contributed to the economic, social and cultural well-being of
Chicago from its very beginning. Poles have been a part of the
history of Chicago since 1837, when Captain John Napieralski,
along with other veterans of the November Uprising first set
foot there. As of the 2000 U.S. census, Poles in Chicago are the
largest European American ethnic group in the city, making up
7.3% of the total population. However, according to the
2006–2008 American Community Survey, German Americans and Irish
Americans combined had slightly surpassed Polish Americans as
the largest European American ethnic groups in Chicago. German
Americans made up 7.3% of the population, and numbered at
199,789; Irish Americans also made up 7.3% of the population,
and numbered at 199,294. Polish Ameri