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Latest fascinating facts and figures on Irish America revealed in Census data

The modern Irish American -- top facts & figures ahead of St. Patrick's Day

IrishCentral Staff Writers,

Published Thursday, January 31, 2013, 7:17 AM

Updated Thursday, January 31, 2013, 9:20 AM

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The modern Irish American -- top facts & figures ahead of St. Patrick's Day

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Did you know there is an Emerald Isle in North Carolina that has 3,702 residents?

In the run up to St. Patrick's Day, the US Census Data has collated new figures and data on Irish Americans.

Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1995 and to celebrate, here are some interesting facts.

Population Distribution

150,990 - The number of Irish-born naturalized U.S. residents in 2011. Source: 2011 American Community Survey

39.3 years old - Median age of U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry is higher than the U.S. residents median age as a whole (37.3 years). Source: 2011 American Community Survey

12.9% Percent of New York state residents who were of Irish ancestry in 2011. This compares with a rate of 11.1 percent for the nation as a whole. Source: 2011 American Community Survey

Irish Americans today

33.3% - Percentage of people of Irish ancestry, 25 or older, who had a bachelor's degree or higher. In addition, 92.9 percent of Irish-Americans in this age group had at least a high school diploma.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey

$57,319 - Median income for households headed by an Irish-American, higher than the $50,502 for all households. In addition, 7.3 percent of families of Irish ancestry were in poverty, lower than the rate of 11.7 percent for all Americans families. Source: 2011 American Community Survey S

Place names with Irish roots

13 - Number of places in the United States that share the name of Ireland's capital, Dublin. The most populated of these places is Dublin, Calif., with a population of 43,572. Source: 2011 American Community Survey

7 - Number of places in the United States named Shamrock, the floral emblem of Ireland.

*SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

See more: St Patrick's Day

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8 Comments

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Seanmor | Feb 10, 2013, 01:07 PM EST

I'm not included in the 159.999 U.S. citizens of Irish birth, even though I am much more Irish than the vast majority of this number. The article does NOT indicate whether those Irish people born north of the Border are included in this number. The first I filled ou U.S. census forms was as a marine recruit in Parris Island, and forn-born residents were instructed to indicate their country of citizenship and to be specific in cases of a partitioned country,I simply wrote IRELAND -because my nationality always to the Whole Irish Nation, despite my London birth. I'm NOT with the 92.9% who have high school diplomas( mine being only an equivanency diploma) but I'm included in the 33.3% who hold bachelor's degrees, having taken colleges under the G.I.Bill. It would be of great interest to me to find out how many young Irish immigrants served in the U.S. military before they became U.S. citizens , and how many of these are now American Legionnaires.

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seamus60 | Feb 01, 2013, 01:40 PM EST

stevenStar. Stop it, you`re making a laughing stock of us all. You`ll be for it if your Ma catch`s you out of bed at this time of night.

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anglo-norman | Jan 31, 2013, 10:25 PM EST

StevenStar- Grow up please & educate yourself while you are at it...

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curtisjohnson | Jan 31, 2013, 10:13 PM EST

“Not to be negative, but wouldn't it be helpful to determine the percentage of those with alcoholism and mental illness.” There have been studies which demonstrate they are below the average – Horace Greeley wrote a book on Irish Americans which published them.

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STEVENSTAR | Jan 31, 2013, 07:04 PM EST

@@CitizenWhy | Jan 31, 2013, 10:17 AM EST I THINK YOU'LL FIND MOST AMERICANS HAVE EITHER DRINK OR DRUG PROBLEMS OR PRESCRIBED MEDICATION PROBLEMS THATS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEEN IRISH MY DEAR... IM IRISH I DONT DRINK OR DO DRUGS NOR DO MOST OF MY FAMILY, WE;RE TOO EDUCATED AND HAVE BIG MORGUAGES TO PAY OFF TO SIT AROUND AND DRINK ALL DAY .. ALSO IF YOU COMPARE AMERICANS MOVIES STARS MUSICIANS ETC AND ACTORS AND ACTRESSES ALL WHO DIED FROM ADDICTION PROBLEMS ... SO I FEEL ITS AMERICAN CULTURE.. EG MICHAEL JACKSON, WHITNEY HOUSTON , ANNA NICOLE SMITH ETC ETC ALL DRUG ADDICTS WE DONT HAVE THAT IN THE MEDIA OVER HERE .. APART FROM THAT MOST OF THE IRISH WHO WENT TO AMERICA IN THE 70S 80S WERE UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WHO HAD FEW SKILLS ONLY MANUAL LABOUR NOWADAYS YOUNG IRISH PEOPLE ARE SOME OF THE MOST EDUCATED IN EUROPE AND EUROPEAN EDUCATION STANDARDS ARE MILES ABOVE ANYTHING YOULL FIND IN AMERICA ,,SO I THINK YOUR COMMENT IS IGNORANT BUT I WOULDNT EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FROM SOMEONE LIKE YOU .. :)

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STEVENSTAR | Jan 31, 2013, 06:59 PM EST

DO YOU KNOW THAT MORE IRISH ACTUALLY IMMIGRATED TO LIVE IN ENGLAND THEN EVER WENT TO AMERICA .. ISNT THAT AN INTERESTING FACT ..EXCEPT OVER IN ENGLAND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CULTURE AND DONT GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT THEIR IRISH ROOTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ROOTS ... AMERICAN SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEIR OWN HERITAGE AND ROOTS AND STOP TYRING TO STEAL OURS ... YOUR NOT IRISH UNLESS YOU HAVE IRISH CITIZENSHIP AND YOU WERE BORN HERE SORRY !!

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dublinshea | Jan 31, 2013, 03:07 PM EST

can see the alcohol and manic depression ranking but bit surprised we are no1 for schizophrenia. had a lecturer at college who believed irish people where primarily addicted to extremes, in religion, politics, drug and alcohol consumption, gambling everything.

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CitizenWhy | Jan 31, 2013, 10:17 AM EST

Not to be negative, but wouldn't it be helpful to determine the percentage of those with alcoholism and mental illness. Traditionally Ireland ranked #1 or #2 in the percentage of those with schizophrenia and manic depression. I wonder if this holds true for the Irish American population?

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