With massive population growth, Chinese Americans have become one of the largest races in America. Chinatowns, a tourist hotspot, are their haven to preserve and propagate their original culture.
Chinese Americans – The Most Populous Race of Asian Immigrants
America is home to various races of immigrants. One of the major races is the Chinese, who arrived in large numbers in the United States as early as the 1840s. Many of these newcomers worked on some of the significant infrastructure projects, most notably the railroads, that helped to make America the developed nation it is today.
According to the United States Census Bureau, 19,618,719 people identified as Asian American in 2020. Six origins made up 85% of the Asian population in America, and the Chinese race made up the most significant proportion (24%). Moreover, this race comprised 0.86% of the US population.
The population of Chinese Americans is growing swiftly. While they have a rapid growth rate, their birth rates are lower than white Americans.
With a rich history, a long existence, and a massive population, the Chinese American race has contributed profoundly to America. Chinatowns are one of the most notable and influential contributors.
The History of Chinatowns
A Chinatown is a Chinese-American community outside the Chinese mainland and its borders. These emerged with the waves of Chinese immigration to Europe and America in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
In the beginning, about 50 native Chinese may have lived in the country in the late 1840s. A few decades later, there were more than 100,000. Therefore, every Western city, village, and isolated mining camp seemed to have its own Chinatown.
There are over 50 Chinatowns all over the country, mainly in the largest cities. However, there is more than one Chinatown in California and New York state. The reason is that they are the leading state in the number of Chinese Americans, which are 1,800,000 and 739,700, respectively.
One of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in the USA is in San Francisco. It encompasses a 20-block area. The many Chinese citizens who immigrated to California in the 1850s in search of fortune during the California Gold Rush formed it.
Of the nine Chinatowns in New York City, the Manhattan Chinatown is also among the two most well-known. Therefore, the Manhattan location is the largest in the country. Because of its size, it boasts the Western Hemisphere’s highest population density of Chinese people.
Going Beyond the Definition of a “Town”
Chinatown is a bridge that brings the Asian culture closer and overcomes the geographical distance between America and Asia. Firstly, Chinatown is a paradise of Asian food. Prepared and processed by Asian chiefs, the dishes are still embedded with authentic, pure tastes.
This aspect marks the difference between Chinatowns and other Asian restaurants. While other Asian restaurants have adjusted their taste following Western preferences, restaurants in Chinatowns still preserve their original flavors. As a result, rich flavors and a harmonious mix of seasoning remain permanently with the guests.
Secondly, Chinatowns also display ancient Asian architecture on every corner. The gateway of every Chinatown is built in a distinctive Chinese style. The roofs of each household, the doors of every restaurant, the billboards, and street decorations all carry Chinese characteristics. This traditional setting immediately gives visitors the feeling of traveling back to ancient times.
By displaying an antique and unique environment, Chinatowns are an essential destination that attracts many visitors, including foreigners and native Americans. Chinatowns significantly contribute to the diversity of American culture.
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