Czech Nebraskan facts for kids
Czech Nebraskans are people living in the state of Nebraska who have Czech family roots. This means their ancestors came from the Czech Republic, a country in Central Europe. Nebraska has the largest percentage of Czech-Americans compared to any other U.S. state. In 2000, about 5.5% of Nebraska's population had Czech ancestry. Also, 3,295 people in Nebraska could speak the Czech language.
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Czech People in Nebraska
Who Are Czech Nebraskans?
Czech Nebraskans are people whose families originally came from the Czech Republic. Many years ago, this area was part of a larger region called Bohemia. That's why you might sometimes hear them called "Bohemians."
A historian named Hrbkova estimated that in 1910, about one out of every eight Czech-Americans in the entire United States lived in Nebraska. This shows how important Nebraska was for Czech immigrants.
Keeping Czech Culture Alive
Czech immigrants worked hard to keep their culture and language alive in Nebraska. They formed many groups and clubs. These groups helped people connect and share their traditions.
Czech Clubs and Societies
Many different clubs were started by Czech immigrants. These included "fraternal orders," which were like social clubs that also offered support to members. There were also thirteen "Komensky educational clubs." These clubs were named after Jan Amos Komensky, a famous Czech educator. They helped teach Czech language and culture.
The Sokol society also had groups in Nebraska. Sokol is a physical education movement that started in the Czech Republic. It focuses on fitness, gymnastics, and community spirit. There were Sokol groups in towns like Crete and Wilber.
Czech Newspapers in Nebraska
To stay connected and informed, Czech Nebraskans started their own newspapers. These newspapers were written in the Czech language.
One of the first Czech newspapers was the Pokrok Západu, which means "Progress of the West." It began in Omaha in 1871. Other Czech newspapers in Nebraska included Přítel Lidu (People's Friend), Ozvěna Západu (Echo of the West), and Wilberské Listy. These papers helped share news and stories within the Czech community.
Nebraska Czechs Inc.
In 1963, a special organization was formed to represent Czech Nebraskans. It is called Nebraska Czechs Inc. This group helps to promote and preserve Czech heritage and traditions across the state.
