Many Italians from the town of Maierato set sail for the American East Coast, in hope to find work to provide for their families, as Southern Italy had been quite impoverished at the time. Many Maieratani men came to the United States pre-world war II, but returned after the war to marry other Maieratani or to bring family to America. Most Maieratani settled in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area, and many became steel mill workers. Now, many Maieratani control government positions in the city.