VGI Updates

Volga Germans from Kukkus settled in Rockford. They were joined by other families that settled in and around Rockford.

Thornton is a southern suburb of the Chicago Metro area. Volga German families settled in the Thornton neighborhood.

Volga German immigrants settling in Alexander found work in the sugar beet fields.

Volga German immigrants from Rothammel settled in and around Clear Lake, Iowa.

Volga German immigrants settling in Eagle Grove found work in the railroad maintenance shops.

Volga German immigrants from Josefstal and Marienfeld settled in Fort Dodge.

Volga German immigrants from Norka settled in and around Mason City where many found work in the sugar beet fields and packing plants.

In 1881, immigrants from Dönhof came to Muscatine.

Many Volga German families settled in and near Fruita.

Bernie Waldschmidt served as mayor of Fruita from 1992-1994.

Those Volga Germans who settled in Greeley came from Frank, Hussenbach, Merkel, Messer, Oberdorf, Pobochnaya, and Schönfeld. Through the years, Volga German immigrants from many other colonies also settled in Greeley and the surrounding area. They settled in “Little Russia” on the east side of town, between the railroad tracks and the sugar factory.

Many Volga German families were employed in the sugar beet industry.  As of 1910, there were 3,699 Germans from Russia laboring in the beet fields of Weld County.