The first wave of Indian American immigration began in 1905–1924, and the majority of the 65,000 who arrived were from the North in Punjab. Many came through Angel Island in California on ships via Hong Kong. Many worked in farms and lumber mills in California, Oregon and and Washington State, according to Wikipedia.
People from India are referred to by the U.S. Census as Asian Indian so as not to confuse them with Native Americans. The first East Indian was documented in Jamestown, Virginia in 1635.
Dalip Singh Saund was elected to Congress in 1957 and became the first Indian American and Asian American ever elected to Congress.
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