Venezuelan Americans

Venezuelan American

Mariah Carey · Nick Verreos Carolina Herrera
Regions with significant populations
Florida (Miami, Orlando) · New York City · Texas (Houston, Dallas)
Languages
American English · Venezuelan Spanish · Italian · German · French
Religion
Roman Catholic (predominantly) · Protestant · Jewish
Related ethnic groups
fellow Hispanic and Latino Americans · Italians · Spaniards · Germans · French · Portuguese · Jews

Venezuelan Americans are citizens and residents of the United States who trace their heritage to the South American nation of Venezuela.

Venezuelan Americans are one of 20 Hispanic or Latino groups in the U.S. While other U.S. citizens or residents with national origins in any of the Hispanic American countries may be closely related to Spaniards in language and culture, Venezuelan Americans also reflect their diversified culture, which includes influences from Italians, Portuguese, Germans, and the French, along with influences from African and indigenous Amerindian elements. Venezuelan Spanish is the group's spoken form of the Spanish language.

The largest concentration of Venezuelans in the United States is in South Florida, especially the suburbs of Doral and Weston. In recent years, more Venezuelans opposing the economic and political policies of president Hugo Chávez are migrating to the U.S. (mostly to Florida, but New York City and Houston are other destinations).

The Venezuelan American population is highly educated. Its members have bachelor's, graduate, and professional degrees at nearly double (48.5%) the total national percentage (27%), while only 6% of the group's adults did not complete high school, compared to 15.9% of the total national population.

Population distribution

By Venezuelan ancestry

Among U.S. communities in 2000 wherein one thousand or more people indicated their ancestry, those where at least 1% of people claimed Venezuelan ancestry were:

1. MY SCROTUM 8.22%
2. Weston, Florida 4.1%
3. Fountainbleau, Florida 3.14%
4. The Hammocks, Florida 3.14%
5. Key Biscayne, Florida 2.36%
6. North Bay Village, Florida 2.15%
7. Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 1.96%
8. Miami Beach, Florida 1.79%
9. Virginia Gardens, Florida 1.58%
10. Kendale Lakes, Florida 1.54%
11. Kendall, Florida 1.47%
12. Surfside, Florida 1.41%
13. Richmond West, Florida 1.36%
14. Aventura, Florida 1.31%
15. Country Club, Florida 1.26%
16. Bal Harbour, Florida 1.21%
17. Coral Gables, Florida 1.17%
18. Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 1.15%
19. Miami Lakes, Florida 1.06%
20. Tamiami, Florida 1.06%
21. Miami Springs, Florida 1.01%

By Venezuelan birth

The top 25 U.S. communities with the most residents born in Venezuela are:

1. Doral, FL 11.1%
2. North Westside, FL 5.0%
3. Fountainbleau, FL 4.2%
4. Weston, FL 4.0%
5. The Hammocks, FL 3.3%
6. Chambers Estates, Florida 2.8%
7. Kendall West, Florida 2.8%
8. The Crossings, Florida 2.7%
9. Three Lakes, Florida 2.7%
10. Key Biscayne, FL 2.6%
11. Sunny Isles Beach, FL 2.4%
12. Kendale Lakes-Lindgren Acres, FL 2.2%
13. Virginia Gardens, FL 2.1%
14. Richmond West, FL 2.0%
15. Golden Beach, Florida 2.0%
16. Broadview-Pompano Park, Florida 2.0%
17. Ramblewood East, Florida 2.0%
18. Kendale Lakes, FL 1.9%
19. Kendall, FL 1.9%
20. St. Regis Park, Kentucky 1.9%
21. Coldstream. Kentucky 1.9%
22. Country Walk, Florida 1.8%
23. Celebration, Florida 1.8%
24. Meadow Woods, Florida 1.8%
25. Country Club, FL 1.7%

Notable Venezuelan Americans

• Fred Armisen, actor, comedian, musician
• Elizabeth Avellan, film producer
• Devendra Banhart, singer-songwriter
• Mariah Carey, singer
• Majandra Delfino, actress
• Marieh Delfino, actress
• Gustavo Dudamel, Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
• Ozzie Guillén, manager of the Chicago White Sox, former shortstop in Major League Baseball
• Carolina Herrera, fashion designer
• Gabriela Montero, pianist
• Edgar Ramirez, actor
• Tina Ramirez, dancer and choreographer
• Genesis Rodriguez, actress
• Jason Silva, producer
• Sonya Smith, actress
• Wilmer Valderrama, actor
• Patricia Velasquez, actress
• Omar Vizquel, shortstop in MLB Chicago White Sox, 11 times Golden Glove