History of Albanians in New York: A Community Story Over a Century in the Making

10 min read

Albanians have been part of New York City’s fabric since the early 1900s, with significant waves arriving after World War II, following the fall of communism in 1990-92, and after the Kosovo War in 1998-99. Today, about 57,000 New York State residents report Albanian ancestry (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024, Table B04006), about 37,500 of them in New York City, spread across Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island and Brooklyn, with about 8,900 more in Westchester County, and New York is recognized as the largest Albanian-American population center in the United States. TLDR:

• Albanian immigration to the U.S. began around 1892-1914, with New York becoming a primary settlement destination
• Three major immigration waves shaped the community: post-WWII, post-communism (1990s), and post-Kosovo War (1999)
• The Bronx, especially neighborhoods like Belmont, Morris Park, and Pelham Parkway, became the heart of Albanian New York
• Albanians are estimated to own roughly one-third of apartment buildings in parts of the Bronx
• Today, about 57,000 New York State residents report Albanian ancestry (ACS 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024); a 2015 Harvard Growth Lab study that also counted people born in Albania put the figure at over 60,000

Few communities have shaped New York City as quietly, persistently, and powerfully as Albanian Americans. From first-generation immigrants who arrived with little more than ambition and kinship ties, to second-generation professionals, business owners, and elected officials, the Albanian story in New York is one of remarkable resilience. Whether you are Albanian-American tracing your family roots, a New Yorker curious about the city’s most underappreciated immigrant success stories, or a researcher exploring diaspora history, this guide covers it all. Albanians first began arriving in New York in significant numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The community grew dramatically in the 1990s due to ethnic conflicts in the Balkans, and today New York is home to the largest concentration of Albanian Americans in the United States, about 57,000 by Census ancestry count in New York State (ACS 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024) and about 68,000 across the New York metropolitan area.

The Early Arrivals: 1892 to 1920

The first Albanians to reach American shores arrived during a period of great upheaval back home. Before Albania declared independence in November 1912, the country was part of the Ottoman Empire, and emigration was driven by a mix of economic desperation and political persecution. The earliest arrivals, mostly young Orthodox Christian men from southern Albania (known as Tosks, largely from the Korce region), settled first in New England cities like Boston, Worcester, and Lowell, where factory work was plentiful. New York City entered the picture quickly. Albanian immigrants were drawn to established Italian-American communities in the city, where cultural familiarity, shared culinary traditions, and even some common ancestry (particularly through the Arbëreshe diaspora in southern Italy) eased the transition. Many early Albanian arrivals found their first jobs in Italian-owned restaurants and grocery stores across the five boroughs. One pivotal moment in early Albanian-American history unfolded in New York in 1908, though its roots were in Boston. Fan S. Noli, one of the most towering figures in Albanian diaspora history, was ordained as a priest at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York City on March 18, 1908, before going on to celebrate the first-ever Albanian-language Divine Liturgy in Boston four days later. Noli was a scholar, writer, diplomat, and eventual Prime Minister of Albania, and his ordination in New York marked the beginning of an organized Albanian Orthodox religious and civic life in America. He co-founded the Pan-Albanian Vatra Federation of America in 1912, which became the most powerful Albanian organization in the country for decades. Between 1931 and 1975, only approximately 2,438 Albanians entered the United States, largely because Albania under Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha had sealed its borders, effectively cutting off emigration. During this period, most Albanians arriving in New York came from Yugoslavia’s Kosovo province, where Albanian communities remained active despite political repression.

Growing Roots: The Mid-Century Community

Even with tight immigration restrictions, Albanians in New York managed to build meaningful institutions. Albanian-language newspapers circulated through the community, with publications like the Bronx-based Illyria serving readers twice weekly. Religious life continued at Albanian Orthodox parishes, and cultural organizations hosted festivals, folk music performances, and language classes. The neighborhoods of the Bronx, particularly Pelham Parkway, Belmont, and Morris Park, began absorbing Albanian families who had initially replaced Italian and Irish residents leaving for the suburbs. In these blocks, new arrivals from Kosovo found community networks already in place, making the Bronx the natural first stop for subsequent waves of immigration. As one community observer noted at the time, Albanians brought to New York “close-knit families, a strong sense of honor, and a fierce drive for independence” (Keith Elliot Greenberg, City Journal, Winter 1992).

The 1990s Wave: The Largest Surge in Albanian-New York History

No decade transformed the Albanian presence in New York more dramatically than the 1990s. The fall of communism in Albania between 1990 and 1992 unlocked mass emigration for the first time in generations. Thousands fled poverty, political instability, and the collapse of pyramid schemes that wiped out the savings of much of the Albanian population in 1997. At the same time, the escalating conflict in Kosovo, culminating in the 1998-99 Kosovo War, sent a second wave of refugees seeking safety in the United States, many of whom settled in New York. During this period, the Albanian population in the Bronx surged visibly. Storefronts began displaying Albanian and Kosovar flags alongside the American flag. Albanian cafes, halal butchers, bakeries serving byrek and petulla, and restaurants specializing in grilled meats and tavë kosi opened throughout the Belmont and Morris Park corridors. By the early 2000s, the area had earned informal recognition as “Little Albania.” Albanians also demonstrated a shrewd instinct for real estate. During the economic depression of 1973, when Bronx property values had collapsed and many buildings were abandoned or undervalued, Albanian families began purchasing apartment buildings. Decades of careful management and investment paid off: City Journal reported in 1992 that Albanians owned as many as one-third of the privately held buildings in the Bronx, a staggering community achievement. No current figure is available.

Where Albanian New Yorkers Live Today

The Albanian-American community in New York is no longer concentrated in just one borough or neighborhood. While the Bronx remains the cultural and historical heart of the community, Albanian New Yorkers today live across a wide geography. The Bronx remains the most iconic location. Neighborhoods like Belmont, Bedford Park, Morris Park, and Pelham Parkway have dense Albanian populations, and the Bronx is home to Albanian-owned restaurants, construction companies, real estate firms, and cultural organizations. Staten Island has developed one of the highest concentrations of Albanians relative to the borough’s overall population, with Albanian families settled particularly in Dongan Hills, New Dorp, Tompkinsville, and the East Shore. About 1.7 percent of Staten Island residents report Albanian ancestry (about 8,700 people, ACS 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024), the highest share of any borough. Westchester County, including Yonkers and White Plains, has also absorbed large numbers of Albanian families who moved out of the Bronx as they became more financially established, following the classic immigrant trajectory of upward mobility and suburban relocation. Queens has seen growth as well, with Albanian and Montenegrin cultural institutions like the “Fol Shqip School” in Ridgewood teaching Albanian language to approximately 60 children as of 2024. Mercy College is currently the only known college offering Albanian language courses in New York City. The Albanian-American Islamic Center in Queens and Our Lady of Shkodra Albanian Catholic Church in the Westchester suburbs serve the community’s spiritual life, reflecting the diversity of religious backgrounds within the Albanian diaspora, which includes Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics.

Albanian Community Spotlight: Culture, Cuisine, and Civic Life

The Albanian community in New York is no longer invisible. Albanian-owned restaurants like Cka Ka Qellu in the Bronx serve exclusively traditional Albanian cuisine, bringing dishes like fërgesë, qofte, and tavë elbasani to New York tables. Albanian weddings, cultural festivals, and community events draw thousands each year. In politics, Mark Gjonaj, whose family roots are in the Montenegrin Albanian community, made history as a state assemblyman and later a New York City Council member, demonstrating the community’s growing civic confidence and electoral power. Albanian Americans have also entered law, medicine, real estate development, and the arts in increasing numbers. In popular culture, Bebe Rexha, a Staten Island native whose parents are ethnic Albanians from North Macedonia, has achieved global success as a pop singer and songwriter. Rapper Action Bronson, from Queens, is half-Albanian and has brought Albanian-American identity into mainstream hip-hop culture.

ALB Connection Community Spotlight

ALB Connection was built to spotlight the very businesses and professionals who carry this history forward. From Albanian-owned construction firms in the Bronx to healthcare providers serving the Albanian community across the metro area, the ALB Connection directory is where you can discover Albanian-American professionals and businesses across New York and beyond. If your family came through the Bronx in the 1990s, or if your grandparents arrived decades earlier and built something from nothing, your story is part of this history. And if you run a business, the community wants to know about you. Submit your business to the ALB Connection directory and become part of the record.

The Albanian Language in New York Schools

One visible sign of community growth is the expansion of Albanian-language education. New York City Public Schools began offering Albanian-language instruction in the late 2010s, with PS 105 in Morris Park, Bronx being one of the first to offer the language. As of 2024, the “Fol Shqip School” in Ridgewood, Queens teaches Albanian to approximately 60 children through an Albanian and Montenegrin American cultural center. These efforts reflect a community deeply invested in passing its language and culture to the next generation.

Resources for Albanian New Yorkers

If you are an Albanian American in New York navigating professional, legal, or community resources, the following are useful starting points:

• ALB Connection Directory: Find Albanian-owned businesses and professionals across New York and the diaspora
• ALB Connection Legal Services Directory: Connect with Albanian-American attorneys
• ALB Connection Healthcare Directory: Find Albanian-speaking healthcare providers
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Official immigration information and resources
• New York State Department of Labor: Employment resources for new arrivals and established workers
• New York Public Library: Free language classes, citizenship prep, and community resources
• Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America: The oldest Albanian Orthodox institution in the United States
• Vatra Pan-Albanian Federation of America: The oldest Albanian diaspora organization in the U.S., founded 1912
• Mercy College: The only known college in New York offering Albanian language courses
• Fan Noli Cultural Center (Boston): Cultural center honoring the legacy of Fan Noli and Albanian heritage
• U.S. Census Bureau – Ancestry Data: Demographic data on Albanian Americans
• Ellis Island Foundation: Search historical immigration records for Albanian ancestors

A Community Still Writing Its Story

The history of Albanians in New York is not a finished chapter. It is an ongoing story of families arriving with little, building with extraordinary tenacity, and leaving a mark on one of the world’s greatest cities. From the Bronx apartment buildings that Albanian families bought and restored, to the restaurants celebrating Albanian cuisine, to the Albanian-American voices entering politics, law, and the arts, the community is visible, proud, and growing. ALB Connection exists to make that visibility easier. Whether you are searching for an Albanian-speaking professional, looking to support an Albanian-owned business, or simply curious about the community you belong to:

• Browse the ALB Connection Directory to find Albanian businesses and professionals near you
• Subscribe to the ALB Connection newsletter for community stories, spotlights, and resources delivered to your inbox
• Submit your business or professional profile to be featured and found by the community

Faleminderit. The community is waiting to meet you.

Related: Albanians in the Bronx today.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Albanians first come to New York?

Albanians began arriving in New York in meaningful numbers during the first major wave of Albanian immigration to the United States, roughly between 1892 and 1920. The Bronx became a significant settlement point, and immigration accelerated again in the 1990s following the fall of communism in Albania and the Kosovo War.

Where do most Albanians live in New York City?

The Bronx remains the historic and cultural center of Albanian New York, especially neighborhoods like Belmont, Morris Park, Bedford Park, and Pelham Parkway. Staten Island also has a notable Albanian population, and Albanian families have moved into Westchester County communities like Yonkers and White Plains over time.

How many Albanian Americans live in New York?

About 57,000 New York State residents report Albanian ancestry, with a margin of error of roughly 3,700 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024, Table B04006), about 37,500 of them in New York City. A 2015 Harvard Growth Lab study that also counted people born in Albania put the state at over 60,000, and the Albanian-American Society Foundation puts New York City alone at over 100,000 (The Bronx Journal, 2019). Precise figures are difficult to confirm because many people of Albanian ancestry from Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro may be counted under different national origins in census data.

What businesses do Albanians own in New York?

Albanian New Yorkers have built businesses across multiple sectors, including real estate (City Journal reported in 1992 that Albanians owned as many as one-third of the privately held buildings in the Bronx), restaurants, construction, cleaning services, and elder care. Many Italian restaurants and pizza parlors in New York City are also owned and operated by Albanians.

What is the “Little Albania” neighborhood in New York?

“Little Albania” refers informally to areas of the Bronx, particularly around Belmont, Morris Park, and Arthur Avenue, where Albanian families, businesses, churches, and cultural institutions are concentrated. The neighborhood developed its current character primarily during and after the 1990s immigration wave.

Is Albanian language taught in New York schools?

Yes. Albanian language instruction has been offered at PS 105 in Morris Park, Bronx, since the late 2010s. The “Fol Shqip School” in Ridgewood, Queens, teaches Albanian to approximately 60 children as of 2024. Mercy College is the only known college in New York City currently offering Albanian language courses.

Who are some famous Albanian Americans from New York?

Bebe Rexha, a globally successful pop singer and songwriter, was born and raised on Staten Island to parents of Albanian heritage from North Macedonia. Action Bronson, a well-known rapper and television personality from Queens, is half-Albanian. Mark Gjonaj, a politician from the Bronx, has Albanian roots from Montenegro.

What Albanian cultural and religious organizations exist in New York?

The Albanian-American Islamic Center in Queens and Our Lady of Shkodra Albanian Catholic Church in Westchester County serve the community’s religious life. Cultural organizations, Albanian-language schools, and the broader network of Albanian community associations are also active throughout the metropolitan area. The Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America, founded in 1908, maintains parishes across the northeastern United States including New York State.