Toni Carmine Salerno

The provided Wikipedia extract focuses entirely on the history, demographics, geography, economy, media, organized crime, religion, and institutions related to the Italian American community in Philadelphia. It details the waves of immigration, the origins of immigrants from different regions of Italy, and their socioeconomic backgrounds. The text highlights the establishment of Italian settlements, particularly in South Philadelphia, and the development of community institutions like churches and mutual aid societies. It also touches upon the public perception and discrimination faced by Italian immigrants, especially those from Southern Italy. The information pertains to the collective experience of Italian Americans in Philadelphia over several centuries.

During the 18th century Colonial Era, Italian immigrants to Philadelphia were few in number and often came from higher social classes, making contributions in business, art, and music. These early settlers primarily originated from wealthier regions in Northern Italy, such as Genoa Province and Liguria, with only a small contingent from Veneto. Unlike later mass migrations, this initial group was significantly smaller. Notable figures like Lorenzo Da Ponte, who arrived in 1804, played a role in introducing Italian opera to America. By the 1850s and 1860s, the Italian community began to form with a more substantial presence, with over a hundred residents born in Italy recorded by 1860, a number that grew to 517 by the 1870 census, predominantly residing in South Philadelphia.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a significant influx of Italian immigrants, predominantly from impoverished villages in Southern Italy, belonging to lower socioeconomic strata. Many worked as unskilled manual laborers, sending remittances back home or returning as 'birds of passage.' These later immigrants established communities, especially in South Philadelphia, hailing from regions like Abruzzo, Campania, and Sicily. This period was marked by negative public perception and discrimination against Southern Italians, fueled by media portrayals focusing on crime. Despite this, community life flourished around religious institutions, with the Catholic Church serving as a central hub. The first Italian Catholic parish in the United States, St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, was founded in South Philadelphia in 1852. Mutual aid societies, such as the Società Italiana di Unione e Fratellanza, were also established starting in 1867 to support the community.

In its early history, the Italian community in Philadelphia was predominantly male, with approximately 67% of residents being men, and a similar percentage falling within the 15–44 age range. These early Italians were concentrated in wards 2 through 5 in South Philadelphia. By the early 20th century, the ratio of families with children to male workers shifted. The Ligurians often held leadership roles within the community during the 19th and 20th centuries. The largest and oldest Italian settlement remains in South Philadelphia. Other historical areas include East Falls, Germantown, and Manayunk. While some Italian businesses persisted in Chestnut Hill as of 2007, settlements like Germantown saw significant decline, with the community largely dispersed by 2007. Many Italians also relocated to South Jersey and other parts of the Greater Philadelphia area, including Washington Township.