La population canadienne-française de l’Ouest des États-Unis. Un survol comparatif, 1850-1910

Abstract

We know little about the French-Canadian population of the American West, especially before a distinction is added to the 1890 American census that allows us to distinguish French Canadians and English Canadians. Using for the first time a dictionary of French-Canadian surnames applied to American census microdata, this text draws the main features of the French-Canadian population of the American West from 1850 to 1910 by comparing it to other regions of the United States. It shows a growing population following the arrival of new immigrants, mostly men, but mainly due to the increase in the number of descendants of immigrants. Internal movements from the East also contribute to this growth during the period, as for the rest of the American population.