The Chinatown area in Chicago is located south of downtown, spanning from Cermak Road to Wentworth Avenue. It is home to about 70,000 people and is the second largest Chinatown in the United States. Chinatowns developed in the late 19th century due to discrimination from the Chinese Exclusion Act. Over time, the boundaries of Chicago's Chinatown have expanded to accommodate population growth. While the original culture has remained, newer foreign investment has brought modern development and amenities. The area now represents a diversity of social identities, although nearly half of residents are foreign-born and over half do not speak English well.

1. Chinatown
By: Jhoelle, Peter, Marisa,
Lauren

2. Where is the area? What are the boundaries?
Chicago’s Chinatown area is home to about 70,000+people and it is located south of
the city's downtown area. The Chinatown area spans from middle of Cermak Road to
Wentworth Avenue. Chinatown can be accessed by any means of transportation. For
example, taking Chicago’s famous ‘L’ train (CTA Red line) to the Cermak-
Chinatown train stop that puts you directly at the entrance of this beautiful district or
perhaps you could plan a ride along the dazzling Chicago River in a water taxi
instead. According to USA Today, Chicago’s Chinatown region, based off the food,
attractions, services, and how the Chinese culture has been respectfully represented,
has been ranked as #3 out of 10 for one of the best Chinatown areas any city could
offer.(# 1 was San Francisco and #2 was New York City) It also the second largest
Chinatown in the United States (1st is New York’s Chinatown).

3. What is the history of the area?
● WHY ARE THERE CHINATOWNS?
○ Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882
■ Creating Chinatowns all over (New York, Los Angeles)
● 1890: 25% lived along Clark between Van Buren and Harrison
Streets
● 1910: near Cermak Road and Wentworth Avenue
● Before 1980: expanded into Armour Square
● 1990: into Bridgeport

4. How has it changed over time? Why has it changed?
● Boundaries
○ Account for overcrowding
● Self-Sufficient (isolation) to incoming Foreign investors
○ 30 years ago: Chinatown was centered along Wentworth Avenue (few grocery
and medicine stores, clothing stores, laundromats and very old buildings jammed
together)
○ Now: Foreign investors are developing modern housing and amenities (due to
increasing residents and businesses)
STAYED THE SAME:
Original Culture and Identity

5. What social identities are represented in the area now?
Female 52%
Male 48%
Median Age (males) - 36.7 years, (females) - 42.4 years
54.2% of people living in Chinatown don’t speak English well or at all (8.9% in
Chicago).
45.2% of residents are foreign born residents.

6. ❏Unique and antique architecture/
landmarks
❏ The rooftop of the Pui Tak Center
❏ Chinatown Gateway
❏ Nine Dragon Wall
❏Variety of restaurant/stores
❏ The furniture and design of the interior of restaurants
❏ Chinese-culture atmosphere
❏Native Chinese Language

7. ❏Past Reputation
❏ Gang affiliated/Drug deals/illegal immigration
❏Increase of waste products
❏ Certain areas have festering smells
❏ Large piles of waste in the streets
❏ In need of new educational campaign to help spread garbage pickup
❏Tourists
❏ Certain stores/restaurants cannot communicate (first hand experience)

8. InterviewWhen tourists come into Chinatown, is it hard to understand them (if chinese isn’t their language)
“A lot of businesses don’t get a lot of english speaking people. Our business [chinese candy shop]
and the gift shops get a lot of english speakers, but I don’t think a lot of businesses do”
How long have you lived here?
“24 years”
Did you or your family immigrate from China?
“Actually I was born in Mainland China, but I grew up in Macau so I [family] immigrated from
there”
Overall do you like living in chinatown?
“I don’t like living in Chinatown. I actually don’t think people like living in Chinatown after they
come to the United States for a few years, but at first they really want to stay in Chinatown
because of their language (chinese). It is easier for them to buy things and do things in
Chinatown.”
When tourists come intown, do they bother you?
“ No I think they are good because there aren’t a lot of people during the day, but during the
weekends a lot of people come and it makes us more happy”

9. Work Cited
❏ “About Chinatown." Chinatown | Chicago Neighborhoods | Choose Chicago. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
❏ Cora, Casey. "'Disgusting' Garbage Problem Festers in Chinatown, Local Leaders Say - Chinatown - DNAinfo Chicago."
DNAinfo Chicago. N.p., 24 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
❏ Goyette, Braden. "How Racism Created America's Chinatowns." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 Nov. 2014. Web.
14 Nov. 2016.
❏ Kian, Harry. Chicago’s Chinatown. 1992.
❏ Lee, Sophia. "Chinatown Neighborhood Profile." Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.
❏ Long,Rani. "10 Best Chinatowns across the USA." USA Today. Gannett, 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2016
❏ "Resources – Landmarks & Tourism." Chicago Chinatown Chamber. The Chicago Chinatown