Throughout this period, Evansville's main ethnic groups consisted of Protestant Scotch-Irish from the South, Catholic Irish coming for canal or railroad work, New England businessmen, Germans fleeing Europe after the 1848 revolutions, and freedmen from western Kentucky.Gilbert, F.M. (1910) History of the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Vol. I. Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Company. By the 1890 census, Evansville ranked as the 56th-largest urban area in the United States, but it was surpassed in population by other cities in the early 1900s. As the new century began, the city continued to develop to its eastern areas. Manufacturing also took off, particularly in the automobile and refrigeration industries.
Throughout this period Evansville's main ethnic groups consisted of Protestant Scotch-Irish from the South Catholic Irish coming for canal or railroad work New England businessmen Germans fleeing Europe after the 1848 revolutions and freedmen from western KentuckyGilbert FM (1910) History of the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County Vol I Chicago Pioneer Publishing Company By the 1890 census Evansville ranked as the 56th-largest urban area in the United States but it was surpassed in population by other cities in the early 1900s As the new century began the city continued to develop to its eastern areas Manufacturing also took off particularly in the automobile and refrigeration industries