Day 47: Chinatown, Chicago, Illinois
📌APIA Every Day (47) - Chicago's Chinatown, located in Armour Square neighborhood, stands as not only the city's fastest growing ethnic enclaves by population but the country's only growing Chinatown by area in the past decade. The community's roots trace back to 1869 when Chinese immigrants sought refuge in Chicago after completing the First Transcontinental Railroad, escaping anti-Chinese violence on the west coast. Along Clark Street in the Loop, the Chinese immigrant community initially established numerous businesses, restaurants, and Christian missions by the late 1800s. Following the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Chinese migration surged in Chicago, finding support in existing clan associations. Despite facing discrimination, clan ties played a crucial role, facilitating business financing and employment opportunities. The Chinese population doubled from 1890 to 1900, solidifying connections within Chinatown.
As the community prospered, a series of events unfolded in Chinatown. The Tong Wars (violent disputes in the 1900s among rival Chinese Tong faction) marked by the 1909 shootout, erupted and left a mark on the history of Old Chinatown. In 1912, discrimination intensified with the renewal of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, prompting migration south to Armour Square. The On Leong Merchants Association played a pivotal role in establishing "New Chinatown" along Cermak Road, witnessing significant economic and architectural developments. The 1975 Chinatown Gateway aimed to foster unity, and the late 1980s saw Chinatown Square and residential expansions. Growth continued into the late 20th century, symbolized by the creation of Ping Tom Memorial Park in 1999, reflecting the continual prosperity of the community to this day.
Despite the first Chinese arriving 157 years ago in Chicago's 185-year history, Chinatown constituents elected Nicole Lee as their alderperson, making her the first Chinese American to serve in the City Council and the first to represent an Asian American majority ward in 2023.
LEARN MORE:
Chicago Sun Times: Chicago’s Chinatown, Unlike Similar Neighborhoods Elsewhere, is Flourishing
Chicago Sun Times: Lunar New Year Starts Sunday: Here’s How Chicago Celebrates
Encyclopedia of Chicago: Chinatown’s History
eAtlas: The History of Chicago’s Chinatown
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