Day 268: Pachappa Camp, Riverside, California
📌APIA Every Day (268) - Pachappa Camp was established in 1905 in Riverside, California, by Dosan Ahn Chang Ho as a settlement for Korean workers in the citrus industry. The camp originated after Ahn created the Korean Labor Bureau to counter the Japanese American monopoly on labor contracts. Local citrus farm owner Cornelius E. Rumsey supported the initiative with a $1,500 loan, which enabled the establishment of both the labor bureau and the settlement at 1532 Pachappa Avenue.
The settlement consisted of 20 basic buildings and a community hall, originally constructed in the 1880s for Chinese railroad workers. The structures lacked modern amenities such as electricity, gas, and running water, requiring residents to use shared outdoor water pumps and outhouses. At its peak, the camp housed approximately 300 people, including families, making it distinct from typical labor camps of the era. The community operated under strict governance, with established rules covering aspects from dress codes to behavioral standards.
The camp served multiple functions beyond housing, hosting significant events such as the 1911 Korean National Association of North America meeting. Under Ahn's leadership, the settlement developed formal governmental structures including elected officials, taxation systems, and separate judicial, executive, and legislative bodies. The Gongnip Hyophoe (Cooperative Association) was established at the camp in 1905, creating policies and institutions aimed at supporting Korean independence efforts.
The Great Citrus Freeze of 1913 marked the beginning of the camp's decline, as crop destruction led to widespread job losses. Most residents relocated to other areas such as Los Angeles or Northern California, and by 1918 the camp was largely abandoned. The site was later occupied by Japanese Americans, then Mexican Americans, before being redeveloped for commercial use in the 1950s. The historical significance of Pachappa Camp was not widely recognized until Dr. Edward T. Chang discovered it on a 1908 Sanborn Insurance map, leading to its designation as Riverside's first Point of Cultural Interest in 2016.
LEARN MORE:
Pachappa Camp: History & Timeline
LA Times: Column: The first Koreatown in America, and Riverside’s role in South Korean democracy
UCR News: ‘Uncovering the buried past of early Korean American history’ in Riverside
Asian Americans in the Inland Empire | A Digital Exhibit: Pachappa Camp, First Koreatown
NCPR: How we lost (and rediscovered) the history of America's first Koreatown
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