Day 261: Chinatown, Deadwood, South Dakota
📌APIA Every Day (261) - Chinese immigrants arrived in Deadwood during the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876 and quickly became a notable part of the community. By 1880, approximately 221 Chinese residents lived in Lawrence County, with most concentrated in Deadwood. While some worked in mining, the majority operated service businesses essential to the mining economy. These included laundries, restaurants, grocery stores, boarding houses, and other trades.
The Chinatown district was located on Lower Main Street and extended roughly 600 feet. Although referred to as Chinatown, the area housed a diverse population, including Chinese, African Americans, and European Americans. Chinese residents maintained cultural practices such as celebrating the Chinese New Year and conducting traditional funeral rituals. At the same time, economic competition contributed to local tensions. For instance, Chinese laborers were often seen as rivals to white workers, and ordinances restricted Chinese residents from being on Main Street after dark.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 significantly reduced the Chinese population in Deadwood. Immigration restrictions and demographic shifts led many to return to China or relocate to larger Chinese communities in urban centers like San Francisco. Today, few remnants of the community remain. The Wing Tsue Emporium, a prominent Chinese-owned business, was demolished in 2005. However, efforts such as the reconstruction of a ceremonial altar at Mt. Moriah Cemetery aim to preserve aspects of the area's historical significance.
LEARN MORE:
South Dakota State Historical Society: The Archaeology of Deadwood's Chinatown: A Prologue
Encyclopedia of the Great Plains: Deadwood Chinatown
The Historical Marker Database: Chinatown
The History Blog: Reconstructed Chinese altar dedicated at Deadwood
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