Chicago’s first Chinatown was established in the late 19th century on Clark Street and was founded by workers escaping anti-Chinese violence on the west coast. In 1912, Chinatown moved south to its current location on Cermak Road. With over 20,000 Chinese residents and more than 400 businesses, Chicago’s Chinatown continues to grow while other urban Chinatowns across the United States are vanishing.
Chinatown community celebrates Chinese New Year with a dragon at South Wentworth Avenue and West 22nd Place, Chicago, Illinois, Feb. 7, 1976.
James (Jim) Klepitsch
The history of Chicago’s thriving Chinatown neighborhood
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