Venezuelan Americans ( or ) are Americans who trace their heritage, or part of their heritage, to the nation of Venezuela. The word may refer to someone born in the US of Venezuelan descent or to someone who has immigrated to the US from Venezuela. Venezuelan Americans are one of 20 Latin American groups in the United States. Venezuela's diverse culture includes influences from Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, Germans, and the French, along with influences from African and Amerindian elements. Venezuelan Spanish is the group's spoken form of the Spanish language. In the United States, Venezuelans are on top of the list of nationalities requesting asylum. History Until the 20th century, the number of Venezuelans that immigrated to the United States is unknown because they were included in the "Other" category. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, there were many European migrants who went originally to Venezuela, but later moved to the United States with their children and grandchildren who were born and/or grew up in Venezuela speaking Spanish. From 1910 to 1930, it is estimated that over 4,000 South Americans each year migrated to the United States. However, there are not many specific figures that indicate the number of Venezuelans among the 4,000. Many Venezuelans settled in the United States with hopes of receiving a better education, only to remain there following graduation. Many Venezuelans who have relatives living in the United States also immigrated to this country. However, since the 1980s, the reasons for Venezuelan immigration have changed to include hopes of earning a better salary. In the 1990s and continuing up to the present, many Venezuelans opposing the regime of presidents Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro have migrated to the US (mostly to Florida, but New York City and Los Angeles are other destinations). Demographics The largest concentration of Venezuelans in the United States is in South Florida, especially the Miami suburbs of Doral and Weston. Other main states with Venezuelan American populations are, according to the 2010 census, Texas, New York, California, New Jersey, Georgia and Virginia. Urban areas with a large Venezuelan community include Miami, Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest Venezuelan populations The largest populations of Venezuelans are situated in the following metropolitan areas (Source: 2019 estimate): Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL MSA - 122,506 - 2.01% Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA – 35,000 - 1.40% Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown,