New York and Irish Born Migration

 hhh

 

The map above shows the movement of people born in New York and Ireland across the US. While a majority remained either within New York or its surrounding states, there were some who moved to the complete opposite side of the continent, in Oregon, California, and states in between. Such a long distance from where they were born can be attributed to a number of factors occurring in the mid to late 1800s. Concerning the why; there is the notion of Manifest Destiny in which westward expansion was driving the US to keep pushing further and further into Native American territory. Additionally, the Homestead Act of 1862 was a large incentive, giving 160 acres of land to settlers willing to settle and cultivate it for at least five years.[1] The cities were getting overcrowded and with the potato famine hitting Ireland, Irishmen were heavily immigrating to New York. To help alleviate unemployment and overcrowding, these conditions likely influenced some New Yorkers and Irish immigrants to migrate further west.[2]

The second part to why they might have moved was the ability to travel. The steam engine and railroads made it easier for Americans to move within the country, at least to the Midwest. Additionally, ground movement by way of the Oregon Trail, California Trial, etc. was also an option as these men and women traveled across the country.

The strengths of this data set are that its information makes it easy to discern the subtle movement of these people through the travel channels available. The areas where these people settled down are either a stopping point on a railroad track, next to a major river where a steamboat could travel, or enroute to or at the end of one of the many Western trails used by travelers.

The limitations of this data are that there is no data on when they chose to move which would assist in understanding which modes of transportation were available to them when they traveled. Additionally, there is always human error, and people are always missed in the census data.

The data from the decennial census is reliable, however there will always be errors. The information was usually taken from one person in the household who could give misinformation, there are always personal biases when conducting a survey, and people will always be missed. Additionally, some areas of the census were inconsistent or vague, which were race or color and birthplace of parents. Immigrants might not want that information recorded due to prejudices and that may have also impacted the census. Additionally, there were missing localities identified in this census which was noticed. However, in 1880 the government used hired employees to record this information and Herman Hollerith “revolutionized a means of coding and tallying information” which would be used for the next census in 1890 which provides some context to the accuracy of the information.[3] However, as previously discussed there are errors, specifically with all information in Oklahoma missing due to the area not being a state or formal territory in 1880 as it was still considered “Indian Territory” until 1890.[4]

 

Historical Argument:

The map reveals that while most New York and Irish born individuals remained in or near New York, a significant number migrated westward; settling in places like Illinois, Wisconsin, or as far as California and Oregon. This movement reflects broader nineteenth century historical movements such as the idea of Manifest Destiny and the Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged westward expansion by offering land incentives. Overcrowding and unemployment in large Eastern cities, exacerbated by waves of Irish immigration during and after the Great Potato Famine, likely pushed some to seek opportunities further west. Their settlement patterns often align with major transportation routes of the era, including railroads, rivers, and land trails like the Oregon and California Trails.

The spatial data suggests that accessibility played a major role in shaping migration paths, highlighting how innovations, especially steam travel and rail, enabled this movement. However, minor limitations in the 1880 census data can impact our conclusions: inconsistencies in reporting, missing populations (notably in Indian Territory), and general undercounts could impact our analysis. Still, the spatial patterns strongly suggest that mobility, combined with economic pressures and federal policy, played a role in reshaping where Irish and New York born Americans made their homes by the late 19th century. 

---

[1] Hannah L Anderson, “That Settles It: The Debate and Consequences of the Homestead Act of 1862,” The History Teacher 45, no. 1 (November 2011): 117–37.

[2] “Why and How New Yorkers Migrated to the Great Plains,” Why and How New Yorkers Migrated to the Great Plains | New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, accessed September 8, 2025, https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/blog/why-and-how-new-yorkers-migrated-great-plains.

[3] US Census Bureau, “Census Bureau Innovations,” Census.gov, May 22, 2024, https://www.census.gov/about/history/bureau-history/census-innovations.html.

[4] “| Oklahoma Historical Society,” Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS, accessed September 8, 2025, https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=LA014#:~:text=By%20setting%20the%20stage%20for,Union%2C%20Oklahoma%2C%20in%201907.

Bibliography

Anderson, Hannah L. “That Settles It: The Debate and Consequences of the Homestead Act of 1862.” The History Teacher 45, no. 1 (November 2011): 117–37.

Bureau, US Census. “Census Bureau Innovations.” Census.gov, May 22, 2024. https://www.census.gov/about/history/bureau-history/census-innovations.html.

“Why and How New Yorkers Migrated to the Great Plains.” Why and How New Yorkers Migrated to the Great Plains | New York Genealogical & Biographical Society. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/blog/why-and-how-new-yorkers-migrated-great-plains.

“| Oklahoma Historical Society.” Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=LA014#:~:text=By%20setting%20the%20stage%20for,Union%2C%20Oklahoma%2C%20in%201907.