Day 188: Asiatown, Houston, Texas
📌APIA Every Day (188) - Asiatown in Houston began to develop in the early 1980s, driven by the oil bust and an increase in Asian immigration following changes in U.S. immigration laws and the fall of Saigon in 1975. Asian American businesses and residents moved from the original Chinatown in EaDo to the southwestern suburbs of Houston due to expansion limitations and high land costs in the original area. Key developments such as the opening of Diho Market in 1983 and Hong Kong City Mall were instrumental in establishing the neighborhood as a major commercial and cultural center.
In the 1960s, the construction of US 59 near Chinatown led to the demolition of 32 contiguous blocks by the Texas Eastern Corporation. Despite these disruptions, historic Chinatown remained significant through the 1970s and 1980s. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removed restrictions on Asian immigration, and the fall of Saigon in 1975 resulted in a new wave of Asian immigrants and Southeast Asian refugees. Vietnamese refugees settled in Midtown, forming a Little Saigon that continued to thrive into the 2000s.
Today, Asiatown extends from Beltway 8 along Bellaire Boulevard and includes numerous malls, restaurants, and banks. Known as the "Wall Street of Houston" due to its concentration of financial institutions, the area reflects its diverse population. Although "Chinatown" is still commonly used, "Asia Town" is sometimes proposed to better represent the area's multicultural makeup. Organizations like the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Association work to promote unity among different ethnic groups, and cultural institutions such as the Jade Buddha Temple illustrate the district’s evolving identity.
LEARN MORE:
Houstonia: Reflecting on Four Decades of Houston’s Asiatown
Houstonia: Getting to Know Houston’s Asiatown of Today
Houston Chronicle: Houston's Chinatown blossoms into Asia Town
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