Kazakh Americans Explained

Kazakh Americans are Americans of full or partial Kazakh ancestry. Although in the 1960s the population of Kazakh origin in United States was estimated at 30,030 people, the Census of 2000 put the population size at less than 300 people.^[1] According to the American Community Survey of 2010–2012, there were more than 23,000 Kazakhstan-born people living in America, but not all of them were of Kazakh ethnicity.

History

Kazakhs began to emigrate to the United States after World War II. Shortly after the war, some Kazakh Soviet citizens, who had been captured during World War II, migrated to the United States following their liberation by Allied troops.^[4]

The Kazakh diaspora in the United States adds to its ranks through inter-ethnic marriages. In addition, since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the diaspora has increased due to the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, employment-based immigration channels for scientists and engineers, such as H-1B visas, EBGC, and international child adoption.^[5]

Demography

The Kazakhs form communities in places as Reston, Virginia.The Kazakh Americans are observed as mono-ethnic and inter-ethnic marriages. The latter is characterized more for the older generation. Young people trying to find his life partner of the Kazakh media, thus preserving, their ethnic identity.

The counties with the largest Kazakh population are Kings County, New York and Los Angeles County.^[6]

Organizations

Like many immigrant groups in the United States, the Kazakhs have their own associations. This section lists these organizations, which are known to be active.

• The Kazakh American Association, a non-profit organization established in Reston, Virginia and founded to respond to the social, cultural, educational and recreational needs of Kazakh people visiting the United States and to preserve and strengthen the heritage and culture of Kazakhs people in USA.^{[7] [8]}
• The Kazakh Aul of the United States, a nonprofit organization that has members in the entire country and is dedicated to Kazakh cultural education and support of the Kazakh population in U.S. The aul runs a summer camp called Zhaliau Heritage Camp focused on bringing Kazakh culture into the lives of Kazakh adoptees in the U.S.. There they can make friends with other adoptees and meet Kazakh adults who serve as role models. The association is founded by Kazakhs and Americans.^[9] Kazakh Aul has been organizing annual summer camps for past several years.^[10]
• Kazakh Student Association at Indiana University, established in 1996.^{[11] [12]}
• The North American Kazakh Association, a non-profit organization established in Seattle, Washington in 2024. ^[13]

Notable people

• Ken Alibek – former Soviet physician, microbiologist and biological warfare expert
• Sanzhar Sultanov – Kazakh-born film director, producer and screenwriter
• Saule Omarova – Kazakh-born attorney and former nominee to serve as Comptroller of the Currency

See also

• Central Asians in the United States
• Kazakhstan–United States relations

External links

• Kazakh Student Association: Home - Michigan State University

Notes and References

1. Web site: Table 1. First, Second, and Total Responses to the Ancestry Question by Detailed Ancestry Code: 2000 . 2013-06-28 . U.S. Census Bureau.
2. Web site: Place of birth for the foreign-born population in the United States, Universe: Foreign-born population excluding population born at sea, 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. United States Census Bureau. 2022-05-11 .
3. Book: Ph.D, Reed Ueda. America's Changing Neighborhoods: An Exploration of Diversity through Places [3 volumes]]. September 21, 2017. ABC-CLIO. 9781440828652. Google Books.
4. Mendikulova G. The Kazakh Diaspora: History and Modernity. - Almaty, 2006. - p. 264-268
5. Web site: U.S. Adopters of Foreign Orphans Undergo Tough Scrutiny | IIP Digital . Iipdigital.usembassy.gov . 2014-02-06.
6. Web site: U.S. Immigrant Population by State and County .
7. Web site: Kazakh American Association . The Profile Engine . 2014-02-06 . 2018-08-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180812012514/http://profileengine.com/groups/profile/424762035/kazakh-american-association . dead .
8. Web site: Алексей Пименов . Казахская диаспора США: традиции и перспективы . Voanews.com . 2010-04-19 . 2014-02-06.
9. Web site: Kazakh Aul of the United States - Events . Kazakh-aul-us.org . 2014-02-06 . 2014-01-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140101060148/http://kazakh-aul-us.org/ . dead .
10. Web site: Cultural Connections . Kazakh Adoptive Families . 2014-02-06.
11. Mendikulova G. The Kazakh Diaspora: History and Modernity. - Almaty, 2006. - p. 268
12. Web site: Indiana University: Department of Central Eurasian Studies. Related links.
13. Web site: North American Kazakh Association.