Chinatown is the largest or oldest

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I have heard conflicting stories on whether SF Chinatown is the largest Chinese population or the oldest outside of China. Thanx for any help!

-- Dona Thornwall (Dona@sf-escapes.com), April 26, 2001

Answers

I don't know if it is the oldest outside of China, however is the oldest in North America. SF is still the largest population and concentration of Chinese outside of China. Recently I heard that Vancouver had the largest. I researched it and their count included the suburbs and also it included all Asians. I do believe that SF is still the largest. It's about one third of the population. In other words one out of every three SF's is of Chinese anc

-- Craig Smith (palmedo@aol.com), April 27, 2001.

San Francisco Chinatown was once the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. In a period of racial discrimination in housing and travel, it was probably easier to count.

Vancouver may well have a developed even a greater community, as the Candian immigration laws are more lax than our own when it comes to accepting immigrants with high means. A lot immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong prior to the return of the territory to China.

But Chinese came with the Gold Rush and the American settlement of California.

-- ziggy (maugo99@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.


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