Day 304: Historic Chinatown, Detroit, Michigan
đŸ“Œ APIA Every Day (304) - ​​Detroit, Michigan, has had two distinct Historic Chinatowns. The first Chinatown was established in the early 20th century along Third Avenue and Michigan Avenue, near downtown Detroit. This area became a cultural and economic hub for Chinese immigrants. However, due to urban renewal projects in the 1950s and 1960s, many residents and businesses were displaced, leading to the development of a second Chinatown in the 1960s, located along Cass Avenue near Peterboro Street. This newer Chinatown served as the center of the Chinese American community for several decades, but with continued urban redevelopment and much of the Chinese population dispersal to suburban areas such as Madison Heights and Troy, it too saw a decline by the late 20th century. Today, remnants of Detroit’s Chinatowns can still be seen in the architectural elements and signage that remain in these respective neighborhoods.
Chinese immigrants established small businesses beginning in the early 1900s, primarily laundries and restaurants, in order to sustain their newly resettled lives in Detroit. Despite facing racial discrimination and exclusion from many industries, the Chinese American community in Detroit maintained a strong sense of cultural identity and solidarity. The growth of the automobile industry in the early 20th century attracted more Chinese immigrants, along with other Asian ethnicities, to the city.
Efforts to preserve the history of Detroit’s Chinatowns are ongoing, as community organizations, leaders, and state representatives collaborate to maintain what little is left of Detroit’s Chinatown. In recent years, there have been initiatives to install historical markers and restore significant buildings in the Cass Corridor area to acknowledge the contributions of Chinese immigrants to Detroit’s urban development. For example, in summer 2024, one million dollars in the state’s budget was earmarked to preserve Chinatown community infrastructure and histories.
Written by Billy Zeng
LEARN MORE:
Detroit Historical Society: Detroit's Chinatowns
Urbanize: Detroit's Chinatown receives $1M in state funding
WXYZ Detroit: Here's what's being done now to revive Detroit's Chinatown
Wayne State University: Chinatown – Ethnic Layers of Detroit
Outlier Media: Remembering Detroit’s Chinatown history
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