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To: Vision
I find it strange that there isn't more French influence in American culture given American history.

While they were important allies, there was never a major wave of French immigration to America. Louisiana is the only place I can think of with significant French heritage. Maybe St. Louis, but the small French population there and in other outposts on the Mississippi was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of American settlers pouring west. So they left their heritage in the form of geographic names all across the Midwest and Mississippi river valley, but not so much in the culture.

3 posted on 02/13/2026 5:11:30 PM PST by EnderWiggin1970
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To: EnderWiggin1970
Huguenots fled to Virginia because of religious persecution in France. The French actually settled in Florida in the 1560's. In fact there is a documented "first Thanksgiving" that included the French.

Florida’s forgotten feasts: The many contenders for America’s first Thanksgiving

5 posted on 02/13/2026 5:27:52 PM PST by P8riot (You will never know Jesus Christ as a reality in your life until you know Him as a necessity.)
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To: EnderWiggin1970

Many French-speakers from Quebec crossed the border into New England seeking jobs. Maine and New Hampshire had significant Franco=American populations.

Many Basques from France and Spain came to the West in the nineteenth century. They settled in Southern and Eastern California and Nevada. Bakersfield, Calif. is famous for its Basque restaurants. If you go to one for a meal, make sure to skip your previous meal because they will serve multiple courses.

We used to see Basque sheepherders herding sheep in the Walnut Valley in Southern California when it was still agriultural. Their flocks would often block thoroughfares.. But they have moved on, and from what I understand, sheep herding in the American West is now done mostly by South Americans.


12 posted on 02/13/2026 5:55:42 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: EnderWiggin1970

50 years ago My wife and I moved to a rural area just North of Old Mines, MO. There were people there that still spoke what was referred to as paw-paw French. A friend of ours resided on a family land grant dating back to the 1700’s.
A historically interesting area. Old Mines was the jumping off point for Rocky Mountain fur trappers. In Potosi, MO, the next town just south of Old Mines, is the grave of Moses Austin. Him and his son Steven owned a lead mining company there in the Old Mines Area before organizing a immigration move to Texas.


19 posted on 02/13/2026 7:38:54 PM PST by MCF (If my home can't be my Castle, then it will be my Alamo om om)
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