It's often said that we are a nation of immigrants; but what does that mean? Here's something to consider: between 1820 (when immigration records were first kept) and 1920, almost 2/3rds of all the peoples who emigrated anywhere in the world came to America. Unless you are Native American, Inuit or Indios, you or your family or your ancestors arrived here from another country - or another continent - sometime during the past three hundred years. Very few countries have adopted as many people from as many different nations and cultures as has the United States.

This isn't just "ancient history". Who we are now, what we value, how we define ourselves, how we relate to one another - essentially, our cultural heritage - is profoundly shaped by the fact that generations of Hoosiers came here from some other place, bringing with them a wide range of beliefs, customs, traditions, languages and stories.

Generations of newcomers came to Indiana to work as laborers or skilled workers, farmers, indentured servants or entrepreneurs. Some came to escape religious and political oppression or other hardships in their homelands. They traveled from Europe, Great Britain, Asia, Mexico or Canada, and from neighboring states such as Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina. They arrived by horseback, carriage, boat, train, or railway, determined to find a better life for themselves and their families.

Some of us have arrived in Indiana more recently. Like you, we work in the mills or factories, on farms, or local businesses. Some of us study at Indiana's colleges and universities. Some have started our own companies. Like those early pioneers, we've come to build new lives in Indiana, our chosen home.

All of our stories are a unique part of Indiana's history . Where did your family come from?

---