The first Filipino community in the United States found its home in the bayous and marshes outside New Orleans, Louisiana. The earliest settlement known was founded around 1765. These Filipino pioneers thought that the swamps of New Orleans gave them safe haven from the Spaniards. They became known as the Manila Men who lived in stilt houses built above the water.
Over generations, the Manila Men developed a thriving fishing and shrimping trade, supplying seafood to the city of New Orleans. Their settlements, known as “Filipino Villages,” represented the first permanent Asian settlement in North America. The community maintained strong ties to Filipino culture while also integrating into the unique Creole culture of Louisiana.
Their legacy is a powerful reminder of the deep and often overlooked contributions of Asian Americans to the founding fabric of the United States.