Kazakh Americans () are Americans of full or partial Kazakhs ancestry. Although in the 1960s the population of Kazakh origin in United States was estimated at 30,030, the 2000 Census put the population size at less than 300.
History
Kazakhs began to emigrate to the United States after World War II. Shortly after the war, some citizens of the former
Kazakh SSR who had been captured during World War II, migrated to the United States following their liberation by Allied troops.
[Mendikulova G. The Kazakh Diaspora: History and Modernity. - Almaty, 2006. - p. 264-268]
The Kazakh diaspora in the United States adds to its ranks through inter-ethnic marriages. In addition, since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the diaspora has increased due to the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, employment-based immigration channels for scientists and engineers, such as H-1B visas, EBGC, and international child adoption.
Demography
The Kazakhs form communities in places as Reston, Virginia.
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The counties with the largest Kazakh population are Kings County, New York and Los Angeles County, California.
Organizations
Like many immigrant groups in the United States, the Kazakhs have their own associations. This section lists these organizations, which are known to be active.
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The Kazakh American Association, a non-profit organization established in Reston, Virginia and founded to respond to the social, cultural, educational and recreational needs of Kazakh people visiting the United States and to preserve and strengthen the heritage and culture of Kazakhs people in the US.
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The Kazakh Aul of the United States, a nonprofit organization that has members in the entire country and is dedicated to Kazakh cultural education and support of the Kazakh population in U.S. The aul runs a summer camp called Zhailau Heritage Camp focused on bringing Kazakh culture into the lives of Kazakh adoptees in the U.S.. There they can make friends with other adoptees and meet Kazakh adults who serve as role models. The association is founded by Kazakhs and Americans.
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Kazakh Student Association at Indiana University, established in 1996.
[Mendikulova G. The Kazakh Diaspora: History and Modernity. - Almaty, 2006. - p. 268]
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The North American Kazakh Association, a non-profit organization established in Seattle, Washington in 2024.
Notable people
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Ken Alibek, formerly Soviet physician, microbiologist and biological warfare expert
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Sanzhar Sultanov, Kazakh-born film director, producer and screenwriter
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Saule Omarova, Kazakh-born attorney and former nominee to serve as Comptroller of the Currency
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Mukhtar Magauin, Kazakh writer and publicist, spent his last years in the United States
See also
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Central Asians in the United States
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Kazakhstan–United States relations
External links
