The White Congolese consisted of European and White American settlers during the times of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo. Though the majority of them were Belgian, a variety of European nationalities were present. Most were temporary workers, but there was a small population of true colonists and multi-generational families that numbered between 2,500 to 3,000 people. During the Congo Crisis, nearly all White people had fled to Europe and the neighboring African nations, though a large portion had remained in the breakaway state of Katanga where Belgium had retained control until 1963. After which primarily White missionaries had remained in or returned to the independent Congo.