Development of the Los Angeles Chinatown, 1850-1970

In 1970, Chinatown contained the largest single grouping of Chinese within Los Angeles. It was characterized by a high concentration of population and specific land use. Although its functional relation to the Chinese who lived throughout the city could be tentatively identified, questions as to its geographical development remain unanswered. The answers were found by tracing Chinatown from its incipient point to the present location. It was discovered that the enduring presence of the Chinese within the city began in 1850. By the 1870s, there had developed an area known as Chinatown. Two Chinese businesses had formed the nucleus for the development. From 1890 to the 1930s, Chinatown reached its epitome both geographically and socially. Destruction of Chinatown in the mid-1930s resulted in three small areas of Chinese concentration in 1940. These were the City Market, New Chinatown, and China City. By 1970, the City Market had all but disappeared through its providing residence for the large Chinatown that resulted from the merging of New Chinatown and China City. Coalescence of these two points was accelerated by the recent influx of Chinese immigrants. The identification of the evaluation of Chinatown made the factors that formed the concentration apparent. Paramount to the original Chinatown were the early Chinese ' pioneer merchants and the means of Chinese migration. After the destruction of Chinatown, three individuals were of importance in building upon the past. The fruit of their labor was the Chinatown of 1970. When these elements were juxtaposed v,ri thin the historical perspective, it became possible to state that Chinatown had developed in its original location in an unplanned manner while its present location resulted from organized planning.