Earliest records indicate the presence of Latvian residents in North America around 1680. The greatest migration of Latvian individuals to the United States, however, came following World War II pursuant to provisions of the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. Organizations such as Church World Services, the Indiana Economic Council, and Catholic and Lutheran churches sponsored the resettlement of Latvian immigrants to Indiana. The decision to settle in Indianapolis was determined by proximity to family members, job opportunities, and other considerations. The U.S. Census showed 1,526 persons of Latvian heritage in Indiana in 1960 and 1,587 in 1980. The Latvian-born population of Indianapolis has been quite small, numbering 779 in 1960 and 577 in 1970. They have not maintained distinct neighborhoods but reside throughout the urban area.
Despite its small numbers, the Latvian community flourished with a variety of supporting cultural organizations: Latviesu Biedriba and Daugavas Vanagi (Latvian welfare associations); ILJOP (Latvian Youth Organization Board); a choir, a folk dance group, and a language school. The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, organized in April 1957, still offered Latvian-language services. The Latvian Community Center, founded in 1962, housed various activities of local Latvian residents. A regional Latvian Song Festival was held in the city in 1960, as was the eighth national Latvian Song Festival in 1988.
Latvia declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 21, 1991. Members of the local Latvian community responded by providing technical, medical, and financial aid through their welfare associations for the rebuilding of their ancient homeland.
*Note: This entry is from the original print edition of the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (1994). We are currently seeking an individual with knowledge of this topic to update this entry.
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