Ameri-can-adians: Demography and Identity of Borderline Canadians and Americans

Jack Jedwab and Susan W. Hardwick

Project goals

Expand on the limited research accomplished to date on the spatial patterns and identities of Canadians in the U.S. and Americans in Canada.

Learn more about whether Canadians are “melting” into the U.S. melting pot or retaining their distinctive Canadian identities after migration to the U.S.

Analyze the level of attachment to Canada of Canadians who reside in the U.S.

Compare the (trans?) national identities of Canadians in the U.S. with Americans who permanently reside in Canada.

Defining “Canadian” and “American” In establishing the number of “Americans” in

Canada and “Canadians” in the United States census-takers most commonly use place of birth and ancestry (in the United States) and ethnic origin (in Canada).

Those identified by ethnicity and ancestry may be expressing a connection with Canada that may span several generations.

So it cannot be assumed that U.S. census respondents who claim a connection to Canada were born there.

Part I: Demographic analysis of

“Americans” in Canada

Born in the USA 2001 2006

Canada 237920 278140

Ontario 98190 117510

British Columbia 54410 62320

Alberta 27510 31805

Quebec 25255 30725

Nova Scotia 8065 8545

New Brunswick 7955 9 450

Manitoba 6905 7920

Saskatchewan 5865 5 905

Between 2001 and 2006 in Canada, there was nearly a 20% increase in the number of Canadians

born in the U.S.

Over 10 000 Canadians Born in the United States

Total - Immigrant status and period of immigration

Immigrants Before 1991

1991 to 2000

1991 to 1995

1996 to 2000

2001 to 2006

Non-permanent residents

Canada 278140 250535 168840 42925 18770 24155 38770 27600

Ontario 117510 106410 68275 19830 8205 11625 18300 11105

British Columbia 62320 56560 39690 8695 3865 4830 8175 5760

Toronto 46575 41280 23695 9110 3515 5600 8475 5290

Alberta 31805 28320 18780 5170 2265 2905 4370 3480

Quebec 30725 26575 17940 4565 2100 2465 4065 4150

Vancouver 28575 24775 15215 4955 1975 2980 4610 3800

Montréal 20135 16670 10175 3350 1485 1870 3140 3465

Calgary 12535 11035 7035 2120 895 1220 1890 1500

U.S.-born in Canada between 2001-2006 almost as high as in previous 10 years (with half choosing to

reside in Ontario)

Canadians Born in the USA Canadians of American Ethnic origin

2006 All 1st generation

Canada 278 140 248 230 50 015

Ontario 117 510 86 060 22 310

British Columbia 62 320 53 645 11 455

Alberta 31 805 51 065 6 445

Toronto 46 575 29 530 9 400

Quebec 30 725 29 225 5 025

Vancouver 28 575 21 285 5 280

Calgary 12 535 17 165 2 695

Montréal 20 135 16 655 3 585

Edmonton 8 285 14 250 1 855

Saskatchewan 10 500 885

Ottawa 8 650 7 110 1 730

Manitoba 5 980 1 020

Victoria 6 615 5 855 1 325

More Canadians report U.S. as birthplace than report “American ethnic origin”

Total Ethnic origin (: American 2006

Total - Generation status 1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation or more

Canada 248235 50015 81250 116970

Ontario 86060 22310 29065 34680

British Columbia 53640 11455 19440 22745

Alberta 51065 6445 16265 28360

Toronto 29530 9400 10070 10055

Quebec 29220 5025 8090 16105

Vancouver 21285 5280 7550 8455

Calgary 17165 2690 5480 8990

Montréal 16655 3585 4845 8225

Edmonton 14250 1855 4555 7845

Saskatchewan 10505 885 3130 6485

Ottawa - Gatineau 7105 1730 2245 3130

Manitoba 5975 1025 2015 2935

Victoria 5855 1320 2110 2420

Hamilton 5390 1265 1850 2275

New Brunswick 4790 1305 1300 2185

Nova Scotia 4645 1115 1185 2350

Nearly half of all “Ethnic Americans” in Canada are

third generation or more

Ethnic Origin: AmericanNBChinese 580South Asian 805Korean 145 Japanese 500

Total - Generation Status

1st Generation - subtotal above the age of 15 years

1st Generation

1.5 Generation

2nd Generation - subtotal above the age of 15 years

2nd Generation

2.5 Generation

3rd + Generation

Total Population

316405 38710 28010 10700 88070 29995 58075 116985

Visible minority 21930 5930 4410 1520 4440 2060 2380 2670

Black 14195 2975 2255 715 3365 1355 2005 2350

Filipino 1685 880 750 130 100 70 35 10

Latin American

2020 1215 910 310 145 125 20 15

Southeast Asian

225 100 20 80 45 35 0 10

Arab 115 30 20 10 20 20 0 0

Not a visible minority

286625 32370 23355 9020 82150 27580 54570 110715

Aboriginal self-reporting

7850 410 245 165 1485 355 1130 3600

Visible Minorities represent increasing percentage of recent “Americans” defined by ethnic origin

Born in the United States of America and Emigrated to Canada

Immigrants Before 1991 1991 to 1995

1996 to 2000

2001 to 2006

Total - Population by visible minority groups

250 540 168 840 18 770 24 155 38 770

Visible minority population

28 190 (11%) 8 150 (5%) 3 130 (16%) 5 950 (25%) 10 960 (28%)

Not a visible minority

222 350 160 695 15 645 18 200 27 810

South Asian 5 525 595 380 1 540 3 015

Black 7 745 3 145 835 1 215 2 555

Chinese 4 825 1 405 610 1 325 1 485

Latin American 3 455 1 355 530 380 1 195

Arab 1510 210 160 285 850

Visible Minorities represent increasing percentage of American-Born Canadians

200615 years of age and over

Canada Total Population U.S.-born in Canada American Ethnic Identification

Bachelor’s Degree or Better

18.5 36.5 25.0

Unemployment Rate 6.6 5.1 5.9

Management Occupations

9.5 12.5 11.0

Average employment income

51 221 63 898 58786

Median employment income

41 401 48 336 45 310

Prevalence of low income after tax in 2005 for economic family members

8.6 8.7% 6.9%

Canada’s U.S.-born more educated than American origin (and also are “less rooted” or “more rooted”

in groups with similar SES)

2006 Citizenship Acquisition of Americans Born in Canada

United States of America

Canada

Immigrants Before 1991

1991 to 1995

1996 to 2000

2001 to 2006

Total - Citizenship

250 535 168 845 18 770 24 155 38 770

Canadian citizens

140 710 109 170 10 690 13 785 7 060

Canadian citizens only

106 025 82 135 7 730 10 180 5 985

Citizens of Canada and at least one other country

34 685 27 035 2 965 3 605 1 080

Not Canadian citizens

109 825 59 670 8 075 10 370 31 705

Ethnic Diversity Survey 2002 American Ancestry

Belong to Canada1st generation - Born

outside Canada 2nd Generation 3rd Generation

or more

1 - not strong at all 8,0% 3,7% 4,4%

2 2,1% 6,7%

3 24,0% 11,6% 6,7%

4 30,0% 15,3% 8,9%

5 - very strong 34,0% 65,1% 68,9%

Ancestral American belonging to Canada grows with generation

Ethnic Diversity Survey 2002 American Ancestry

Belong to North America 1st generation - Born

outside Canada 2nd Generation 3rd Generation or

more

1 - not strong at all 4,0% 5,8% 6,7%

2 4,0% 6,3% 8,9%

3 10,0% 15,3% 22,2%

4 18,0% 18,0% 11,1%

5 - very strong 60,0% 51,3% 46,7%

American Ancestry Belonging to North American declines with Generation

Ancestry American 4 and 5 on a 5 point scale with 5 meaning strong

sense of belonging Ethnic Diversity Survey 2002

Belong to Canada Belong to North America

First Generation 64.0 78.0

Second Generation 80.4 69.3

Third Generation or more 77.8 57.8

First to third generation “Canadian” vs. “North American” identity

Part II: Demographic analysis of

“Canadians” in the U.S.

Contemporary Trends

Canadian Immigrants in the United States: 1970-2007

812421

842859

744830

820771

840197

680000

700000

720000

740000

760000

780000

800000

820000

840000

860000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2007

Year

Can

adia

n Im

mig

rant

s

Canadians who moved to the United States

000’s

1900-1909 123

1910-1919 708

1920-1929 949

1930-1939 163

1940-1949 161

1950-1959 353

1960-1969 433

1970-1979 179

1980-1989 156

1990-1999 195

2000-2009 212

Number of Canadians migrating to the U.S. higher in first decade of 21st C. than at any time since the

1960s

Number of persons born in Canada admitted to the United States as permanent residents

Persons obtaining legal permanent resident status by region and selected country of last residence

2009 16 140 22 508

2008 15 109 22 366

2007 15 495 20 324

2006 18 207 23 913

2005 21 878 29 930

2004 15 569 22 439

2003 11 350 16 447

2002 19 352 27 142

2001 21 752 29 991

2000 16 057 21 289

Total 170 909 212 436

Recession does not deter Canadian migration to the United States

United States Born in Canada French Canadian Ancestry

Canadian Ancestry

Total 834 478 2 167 536 721 154

Native Born ------------------ 2 073 004 496 668

Foreign Born 834 478 94 532 224 486

Entered 2000 or later 165 000 16 000 56 000

Entered 1990 to 1999

175 000 16 250 56 250

“Canadian ancestry” exceeds “Canadian-born” feelings of attachment to Canada (and is also stronger than attachment to the U.S. of American

migrants in Canada)

United States Born in Canada French Canadian Ancestry

Canadian Ancestry

Foreign Born 834 478 94 532 224 486

Naturalized US Citizen

373 057 45 975 81 009

Not a US Citizen 461 421 48 557 143 477

Higher percentage of Foreign Born who report French-Canadian Ancestry are naturalized than those who report Canadian Ancestry and Canadian-Born

2006 (25 years of age and over)

United States-Entire Population

Canadian Born Living in the United States

French Canadian Ancestry

Canadian Ancestry

Bachelor’s Degree/Graduate and Professional Degree

27.4 39.8 28.3 34.9

Management, Professional and Related Occupations

34.5 55.7 34.7 46.6

Median Household Income

52 175 64 209 60 849 62 148

Median Family Income

63 211 85 297 73 441 77 957

Per Capita Income 27 466 48 671 32 050 36 526

Mean Earnings for Full-Time, Year Round workers (Male)

62 163 102 202 68 328 84 366

Median Earnings for Full-Time, Year Round workers (Male)

45 425 72 841 52 934 60 202

Poverty Rates-All Families

9.6 5.0 5.0 5.5

Canadian-born in U.S. do better on most indicators of SES than “ancestrally Canadian”

Conclusions, reflections, future research directions…

- Defining and locating often invisible subgroups of Can- Am migrants (Canadian-born? U.S.-born? Canadian or American ancestry? Canadian-by-choice?). - Comparative immigrant residential geographies at the neighborhood level in Canada and the U.S.- Unraveling national/transnational identities at the borderland…

‘

So where do we go from here?

- Spatial patterns (and related social, economic, and environmental processes) of Canadians in the U.S. need further analysis.- Comparative studies of Canadians in the U.S. and Americans in Canada are also long overdue.- In particular, a critical need remains for an in-depth analyses of the (trans)national identities and attachments of Can-Am migrants now and in the years to come.