Puerto Rican areas in the Midwest (Columbus, Cleveland: home, neighborhoods, living in)

[PuertoRicanGuy]

From wat I hear the Midwest has a small but significant population of Puerto Ricans. I kno there's Puerto Rican communities in the cities of Chicago and Cleveland. But I was wonderin is there Puerto Rican communities in other cities in the Midwest region?

[costello_musicman]

Here's a map I found. Looks like Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Buffalo, and Detroit...and a little bit Columbus:

[5Lakes]

There are some in Buffalo I believe, which is not technically in the Midwest, but it's close to Cleveland. Other than that I don't think so.

[CortlandGirl79]

There are a lot of Puerto Ricans in Campbell, Ohio outside of Youngstown and in the city itself. Many of them are first generation who came to work in the steel mills and their kids and grandkids. My one girlfriends is married to a guy that's 3/4 Puerto Rican and 1/4 Italian. I also used to work w/a lot of Puerto Ricans when I worked in the automotive industry. Campbell is known for being the home to mostly Puerto Ricans, Italians, and Greeks and many of them have inter-married.

[PuertoRicanGuy]

Thanx everybody.. Looks like Buffalo, Detroit, and Milwaukee have some.. I was hoping St. Louis or Indianapolis would have some, atleast more then 1,000

[BelieveInCleve]

Chicago and Cleveland areas have the most Puerto Ricans in the Midwest, followed by Milwaukee and Detroit areas. Outside of those there really aren't any other large Puerto Rican communities in the Midwest.

Lorain Ohio (Cleveland area) actually has the highest Puerto Rican % of any city in the Midwest, around 18% Puerto Rican (and 26% Hispanic/Latino overall). Cleveland itself actually has the highest % of Puerto Ricans out of all the major midwest cities at around 7%, which is even higher than Chicago and Milwaukee.

Ohios Puerto Rican population is mainly in Northeast Ohio, specifically Cleveland-Lorain and Youngstown/Campbell. True Puerto Rican neighborhoods in the area are the near westside of Cleveland, South Lorain, and to a lesser extent the Eastside of Youngstown/Campbell area. I'm also half Puerto Rican and from/living in Cleveland-Lorain.

[Spreadofknowledge]

Mods put this in the General US forum. The midwest is not just one state.

The metropolitan areas of Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee have the largest PR populations in the Midwest.

Chicago has a large PR population on the city's West side. And also many of its western and northern suburbs, as well as many small cities in Northwest Indiana. The Chicago metro has the 5th largest Puerto rican population after the metros of NYC, Orlando, Philly, and Miami, the largest outside the eastcoast. Similar to NY, Chicago's PR population and influence is dwindling, many are going to the city's suburbs or to other states. Milwaukee's PR population is as large as it is partly becuz of its proximity to Chicago.


Ohio has a large Puerto Rican population, and is currently the most popular destination in the Midwest for Ricans. Close to 80% live in Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland (particularly the westside) and many of its suburbs and smaller cities like Lorain, Youngstown, and Akron. Cleveland has one of the highest percentages of Puerto Ricans of any large major city, highest in the Midwest. Northeast Ohio is still has growing numbers of Puerto Ricans.

Columbus also has a small but fast growing Puerto Rican population, mostly in the northeast part of the city. Many are moving from NYC, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit area, and Puerto Rico itself into Columbus.


Metro Detroit has a small, stagnant, and scattered PR population. Metro Indianapolis also has a small PR population present, many are moving there from Chicago.


Also Western New York, tho technically in a northeast state, this part of the state is in the Great Lakes region. It has cities like Rochester and Buffalo (and many smaller cities and suburbs) which have Huge Puerto Rican populations and influence, more so than Northeast Ohio and even more than parts of the coastal northeast (portions of NY CT NJ). In Rochester, Puerto Ricans are widespread in large numbers thru out the city, especially among blacks. In Buffalo, they are mainly on the westside.

I dont know if Western PA cities Pittsburgh and Erie is considered Midwest or not. But both have small and growing PR populations scattered thru out, many are coming from the coastal northeast especially NYC/NJ.


Tho majority of Puerto Rico migrants are going to the Eastcoast (I-95 from Boston to Miami). In the Midwest, Western NY (Buffalo & Rochester), Northeast Ohio/Cleveland area, and Columbus are really the only areas still recieving large numbers of Puerto Ricans. Chicago's PR population and influence is dwindling fast, many are leaving and its no longer a major destination for PR born migrants.

[WRnative]

In Cleveland, the Francisco Lindor effect?

[kpl1228]

many were recruited by understaffed steel mills in the 50's, so Cleveland, Lorain, NW Indiana (Gary/Hammond/East Chicago), downriver area of Detroit (though more Mexican)....maybe Buffalo/Lackawanna? Some around North Hill in Akron too. But not Pittsburgh, oddly enough, that I know of.

[CortlandGirl79]

Originally Posted by kpl1228

many were recruited by understaffed steel mills in the 50's, so Cleveland, Lorain, NW Indiana (Gary/Hammond/East Chicago), downriver area of Detroit (though more Mexican)....maybe Buffalo/Lackawanna? Some around North Hill in Akron too. But not Pittsburgh, oddly enough, that I know of.

Youngstown too