The first known Lebanese immigrant to the United States was Antonio Bishallany, a Maronite Christian, who arrived in Boston Harbor in 1854.

[3] Large scale-Lebanese immigration began in the late 19th century and settled mainly in Brooklyn and Boston, Massachusetts.

Many immigrants settled in northern New Jersey, in towns such as Bloomfield, Paterson, Newark, and Orange.

Many came via the United Kingdom, including a large number on the ill-fated liner RMS Titanic.

Those who now settle are predominantly Muslim, in contrast to the predominantly-Christian population of immigrants of previous waves.

A number of Jews fled Lebanon for the United States due to fears of persecution, and populations of Druze and atheists also exist.

Brooklyn, New York has one of the oldest Lebanese populations in America, dating over 125 years; one large center is in the Bay Ridge section.

[11] Easton, Pennsylvania; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Utica, New York; South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; Jacksonville, Florida; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Los Angeles County; San Francisco, California; Peoria, Illinois; Grosse Pointe, Michigan; Miami, Florida; Wichita, Kansas; Bloomfield, Michigan; Fall River, Massachusetts; Worcester, Massachusetts; Boston, Massachusetts; Springfield, Massachusetts; Methuen, Massachusetts; Lawrence, Massachusetts; Salem, New Hampshire; Cleveland, Ohio; Lansing, Michigan; East Grand Rapids, Michigan; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tulsa, Oklahoma; St. Clair Shores, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio; the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex; El Paso, Texas; Austin, Texas; San Antonio, Texas and Houston, Texas also have sizeable Lebanese communities.