Day 33 - Chinatown/Japantown, Old Town District, Portland, Oregon
📌APIA Every Day (33) - Portland’s Old Town Chinatown, historically rich with Chinese and Japanese immigrant communities, has faced a complex evolution shaped by factors such as fires, floods, discriminatory laws, and the aftermath of World War II. Chinese immigrants began moving to Portland during the late 1850s from the gold fields of California and farms of southwestern Oregon, while others arrived directly by steamship from China via San Francisco. Between the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and Executive Order 9066 and subsequent Japanese incarceration from 1942 to 1945, Chinese and Japanese American populations in Old Town Portland fluctuated, grew, and even migrated interlocally after the 1873 Fire and the Willamette River's continuous flood events.
In the 1970s, the Chinatown Development Committee was established by the CCBA and began to develop a plan for revitalizing Chinatown. Since then, Portland New Chinatown/Japantown Historic District has had bilingual street signs, ornamental streetlights, banners, and several Chinese businesses and restaurants. Over recent decades, the neighborhoods struggled with changing demographics, discriminatory legislation, and the dispersion of Chinese and Japanese populations. Despite revitalization attempts, the district faced challenges such as homelessness, the opioid crisis, and public safety issues, reflecting broader concerns in Portland.
Amid these struggles, there are signs of optimism. Local organizations like Portland Chinatown Museum, Sisters of the Road, and Street Roots are investing in the community, recognizing the neighborhood's historical significance. The reopening of iconic spaces like the House of Louie and the renovation of the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center reflect a commitment to preserving cultural heritage. However, differing opinions on revitalization strategies highlight the ongoing tension between social services and businesses in Old Town, emphasizing the need for open communication and shared values to build a stronger community. Ultimately, despite the challenges, there is a shared belief in the potential and resilience of Old Town.
LEARN MORE:
National Park Service: Portland New Chinatown/Japantown Historic District
Portland Neighborhood Guide: Old Town Chinatown
Monthly Portland: Portland’s Chinatown: Then & Now
OPB: Optimism in Portland’s Old Town neighborhood: ‘You can’t keep us from growing’
Northwest Asian Weekly: Portland Chinatown vanishes—a foreshadow of the [Seattle] CID?
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