the first bosnians settled in chicago in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, joining other immigrants seeking better opportunities and better lives. as the former yugoslavia continued to find its identity as a nation over the last century, the people of bosnia and herzegovina sought stability and new beginnings in the city of chicago many intending to return to their homeland. bosnian muslims were early leaders in the establishment of chicago’s muslim community. in 1906, they established dzemijetul hajrije (the benevolent society) of illinois to preserve the community’s religious and national traditions as well as to provide mutual assistance for funerals and illness. the organization established chapters in gary, indiana, in 1913, and butte, montana, in 1916, and is the oldest existing muslim organization in the united states. the bosnians were the first muslims in the united states to incorporate an islamic association in 1906 in chicago, illinois. there are approximately 70,000 bosnian americans in chicago. 40,000 of them came as refugees during the 1990s and early 2000s.