From the 1880s to 1914, several thousand Muslims immigrated to the United States from the Ottoman Empire, and from parts of South Asia; they did not form distinctive settlements, and probably most assimilated into the wider society. Once very small, the Muslim population of the US increased greatly in the 20th century, with much of the growth driven by rising immigration and conversion, and a comparatively high birth rate. In 2005, more people from Muslim countries became legal permanent United States residents — nearly 96,000 — than in any year in the previous two decades. American Muslims come from various backgrounds, and are one of the most racially diverse religious group in the United States according to a 2009 Gallup poll. Native-born American Muslims are mainly African Americans who make up 24% of the total Muslim population. Many of these have converted to Islam during the last 70 years. Conversion to Islam in prison, and in large urban areas has also contributed to its growth over the years. South Asian immigrants (from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) make up 26% of the Muslim population, and Arabs make up 26% of the population. The remaining 24% percent is from other groups. The history of Islam in the United States can be divided into two significant periods: the post World War I period, and the last few decades. Although some individual members of the Islamic faith are known to have visited or lived in the United States during the colonial era. There is no accurate count of the number of Muslims in the United States, as the US Census Bureau does not collect data on religious identification. There is an ongoing debate as to the true size of the Muslim population in the US. There are 1,209 mosques in the United States. At present, many mosques are served by imams who immigrate from overseas, as only these imams have certificates from Muslim seminaries. Contrary to popular perceptions, the condition of Muslims in the US is very good. Among South Asians in this country, the large Indian American community stands out as particularly well-educated and prosperous, with education and income levels that exceed those of US-born whites. Many are professionals, especially doctors, scientists, engineers, and financial analysts, and there are also a large number of entrepreneurs. The five urban areas with the largest Indian populations include the Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area as well as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The 10 states with the largest Muslim populations are California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and Maryland. 45 percent of immigrant Muslims report annual household income levels of $50,000 or higher. This compares to the national average of 44 percent. Immigrant Muslims are well represented among higher-income earners, with 19 percent claiming annual household incomes of $100,000 or higher (compared to 16 percent for the Muslim population as a whole and 17 percent for the US average). This is likely due to the strong concentration of Muslims in professional, managerial, and technical fields, especially in information technology, education, medicine, law, and the corporate world. Ramadan Ramadan in America is celebrated pretty much like anywhere else. There's a great deal of diversity in terms of how Ramadan is celebrated in the US. Each ethnic group brings its own customs and traditions to the table. It is common for Muslims families to host iftar dinners for family and friends throughout Ramadan. American-Muslim organizations are also doing their part in having Americans recognize the importance of Ramadan in Islam – and through Ramadan festivities educate Americans about Islam. Many mosques host inter-faith iftar dinners to which local non-Muslims are invited. These are great opportunities to host inter-faith dialogue and bring about a better understanding of Islam. Mosques also organize Ramadan bazaars. At universities, Muslim student groups host ‘Eid dinners that are open to all university students and faculty. Many gropus receive university funding to host iftars for Muslims students on campus. Most U.S. university campuses make the effort to accommodate Muslim students who are living on campus and observing the Ramadan fast. Muslim-owned businesses thrive on sales during Ramadan, be they restaurants or clothing shops or even stationary shops that sell Ramadan greeting cards. __
