The development of the Volga German settlements in Michigan was also closely tied to the sugarbeet industry. This industry was started there at the same time as in Colorado; sugar refineries sprang up in the Saginaw Basin in 1902. The first settlements there were in Saginaw and Sebewaing and soon spread out. Beet cultivation peaked there around 1910 and in later years regressed. Volga Germans in Bay City and Flint were employed in the automobile industry.

Almost all Volga Germans in Wisconsin were living in cities where they were mainly laborers in factories. The oldest and largest settlement was in Sheboygan which started in 1892. Later settlements were established in Fond du lac, Oshkosh, Racine and No. Milwaukee.

Chicago, Illinois had the largest Volga German establishment in America, comprising of 4 different settlements with over a thousand families. Starting in 1891 was Jefferson Park, on the northwest side of the city, followed by Bellwood-Maywood on the west side, Humbold Park in the center and Riverdale and Dolton, southern suburbs of Chicago.

In the eastern part of the United States were a few isolated Volga German settlements. These include Wauseon, Ohio, Pine Island, Stuyvesant Falls, and Oswego, New York, Baltimore, Maryland and Newark, New Jersey.

Many Volga Germans came to America through Canada since fares were less expensive and there was less of a chance of rejection due to medical reasons. A large community of Volga Germans was established in the city of Calgary, Alberta starting in 1898 where many were employed by CPR railroad. Farmers (mostly wheat) settled in the surrounding areas of Didsbury and Calstairs. The other major Volga German settlement in Canada was in the rural areas around Winnipeg, Maintoba. The Volga Germans there were intermixed with the Black Sea Germans and were predominantely farmers.

 

Source: 1) "Russian-German Settlements in the United States" by Richard Sallet, translated and edited by LaVern Rippley and Armand Bauer. 2) German Volga mail list subscribers