The Slovaks settled in three western PA counties (Allegheny, Fayette and Westmoreland) to build better lives & to escape oppression under Austro-Hungarian rule. They became miners (in 1891 18,000 Slovak miners went on strike in Connellsville protesting exploitation and a cut in wages) and steel workers. In Pittsburgh the Slovak-Americans were the 5th largest group after the Germans, Italians, Irishmen, and Poles. Hazelwood, North Braddock, West Mifflin, and Duquesne had 24% – 54% residents with Slovak ancestry in 1990. According to the 2000 U.S. census (nationalities not addressed in 2010 census) there were 797,764 people of Slovak heritage living in the United States. Pennsylvania ranks first of the 50 states with 30.5% of these residents. Pittsburgh has 105,525, making it the #1 city in the world for people of Slovak heritage outside of Slovakia itself.
assimilated into their new country they got reputations as hard workers,
reliable, patriotic and honest. The
Slovaks keep tradition alive and participate in the Pittsburgh Folk Festival
every year in May. There are three Slovakian
societies in Pittsburgh also.
were and are: Staromodny Zemiakova
Polievka (old fashioned potato soup), Sladky Dezert Polievka (sweet dessert
soup), Pulnina (veal loaf), Viancne Bean Jedlo (Christmas bean dish), Matice
Vojne (nut rolls), Cirek (Easter cheese), Nove Matky Jacmen Polievka (new
mother’s barley soup), Vianocne Kysla Hubova Polievka (Christmas sour mushroom
soup), Ciberja (potato soup), Rasca Polievka (caraway seed soup), Bundurcov
Halusky (potato dumplings), Kolbassa (pork sausage), Pirohy (pastries filled
with cottage cheese, sauerkraut or potatoes), Halubky (stuffed cabbage),
Goulash (stew), Kapusta Ochutenie, (sauerkraut relish), Brusnica Maline Kyslou
Smotanu Forma (cranberry/raspberry/sour cream mold), Palancinky (crepes),
Cheregie (deep fried pastries), Bublana (cherry or blueberry squares) and
Kolachky (prune filled cookies).
LINK FROM GLOBALPITTSBURGH.ORG
- Western Pennsylvania Slovak Cultural Association: (http://wpsca.org/)
One of the goals of WPSCA is to acquaint the general public with the geography, history and culture of the Slovak Republic.
- National Slovak Society of the USA: (http://www.nsslife.org/)
Its mission is to unite persons of Slovak and Slavic ancestry and their non-Slav friends and relatives in a fraternal benefit society.
351 Valley Brook Road
McMurray, PA 15317-3337
- The Slovak Club, University of Pittsburgh: (http://www.pitt.edu/~votruba/slovak_club.html)
The University of Pittsburgh's Slovak Club invites all interested parties to participate in its activities. You may learn more about upcoming events by visiting the website.