Chinatown, Boston (; Cantonese: 唐人街; Jyutping: Tong4jan4gaai1) is a neighborhood located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is the only surviving historic ethnic Chinese enclave in New England since the demise of the Chinatowns in Providence, Rhode Island, and Portland, Maine, after the 1950s. Because of the high population of Asians and Asian Americans living in this area of Boston, there is an abundance of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants located in Chinatown. It is one of the most densely populated residential areas in Boston and serves as the largest center of its East Asian and Southeast Asian cultural life.
Chinatown borders the Boston Common, Downtown Crossing, the Washington Street Theatre District, Bay Village, the South End, and the Southeast Expressway/Massachusetts Turnpike.Interactive map of Boston's Chinatown Boston's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns outside of New York City.
Demographics
Because it is a gathering place and home to many immigrants, Chinatown has a diverse culture and population. According to 2020 census data, the total population in Chinatown is 5,460. This is an almost 53% increase since 2000, when there were only 3,559 people. The white population rose 241.7% from 228 in 2000 to 779 in 2010. The Black and African American population rose from 82 in 2000 to 139 in 2010, showing an almost 70% increase. The American Indian population dropped 75% from 2000 to 2010, going from 8 to 2 residents. The Asian population grew about 7.5% from 3,190 in 2000 to 3,416 in 2010. People who identified as another race grew from 18 in 2000 to 30 in 2010, a 66.7% increase. Those who identified as more than one race grew from 32 in 2000 to 77 in 2010, as increase of 140.6%.
With more white residents moving into Chinatown, there is worry about gentrification. For instance, the Asian population dropped to 46% in 2010. Another major concern is that historic towns and places are becoming more touristy and less cultural. Among Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, Boston has shown the highest increase in non-Asian residents moving into non-family shared households, with a 450% increase from 1990 to 2000.
The total number of housing units in Chinatown has increased by 54% from 2000 to 2010. Chinatown went from 1,367 to 2,114 housing units. There has been an almost 50% increase in the occupied housing units in Chinatown from 2000 to 2010, going from 1,327 to 1,982. With the increase in occupied housing units, there has also been a 230% increase in vacant homes, going from 40 in 2000 to 132 in 2010.
Race and ancestry + Chinatown/Financial District/Leather District (02111) Racial Breakdown of Population (2017) Race Percentage of 02111population Percentage ofMassachusettspopulation Percentage ofUnited Statespopulation ZIP Code-to-StateDifference ZIP Code-to-USADifference Asian 51.9% 6.9% 5.8% +45.0% +46.1% White 41.7% 81.3% 76.6% –39.6% –34.9% White (Non-Hispanic) 38.1% 72.1% 60.7% –24.0% –22.6% Hispanic 4.5% 11.9% 18.1% –7.4% –13.6% Black 2.8% 8.8% 13.4% –6.0% –10.6% Native American/Hawaiian 0.0% 0.6% 1.5% –0.6% –1.5% Two or more races 2.7% 2.4% 2.7% +0.3% +0.0%
According to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, the largest ancestry groups in ZIP Code 02111 are:
Ancestry Percentage of02111population Percentage ofMassachusettspopulation Percentage ofUnited Statespopulation ZIP Code-to-StateDifference ZIP Code-to-USADifference Chinese 43.75% 2.28% 1.24% +41.47% +42.51% Irish 9.65% 21.16% 10.39% –11.51% –0.74% Italian 4.80% 13.19% 5.39% –8.39% –0.59% English 4.65% 9.77% 7.67% –5.12% –3.01% German 3.44% 6.00% 14.40% –2.57% –10.96% French 3.42% 6.82% 2.56% –3.40% +0.87% Polish 2.97% 4.67% 2.93% –1.69% +0.04% Arab 2.38% 1.10% 0.59% +1.28% +1.79% Asian Indian 1.96% 1.39% 1.09% +0.57% +0.87% Korean 1.73% 0.37% 0.45% +1.36% +1.28% Norwegian 1.64% 0.51% 1.40% +1.13% +0.24% Swedish 1.63% 1.67% 1.23% –0.04% +0.40% Filipino 1.51% 0.19% 0.86% +1.32% +0.65% European 1.30% 1.08% 1.23% +0.21% +0.06% Sub-Saharan African 1.26% 2.00% 1.01% –0.74% +0.24% Scottish 1.18% 2.28% 1.71% –1.11% –0.54% American 1.15% 4.26% 6.89% –3.11% –5.74% British 1.12% 0.48% 0.43% +0.65% +0.69%
History
Early history Part of the Chinatown neighborhood occupies a space that was reclaimed by filling in a tidal flat. The newly created area was first settled by Anglo-Bostonians. After residential properties in this area became less desirable due to railway developments, it was settled by a mixed succession of Irish, Jewish, Italian, Lebanese, and Chinese immigrants. During the late-nineteenth century, garment manufacturing plants also moved into Chinatown, creating Boston's historic garment district. This district was active until the 1990s.
In 1870, the first Chinese people were brought from San Francisco to break a strike at the Sampson Shoe Factory in North Adams, Massachusetts. The arrival of these Chinese workers were met with much hostility from members of the community. There was ill-intentioned words spread about them that were meant to create a bad image for the Chinese to the rest of the community in Boston. Prior to the immigration of Chinese workers from California in 1870, Boston's Chinese population consisted of tea merchants or servants.
In 1874, many of these immigrants moved to the Boston area. As history and tradition details, many Chinese immigrants settled in what is now known as Ping On Alley. The first laundries opened on what is now Harrison Ave in Chinatown. In 1875, as laundries were becoming more and more popular, the first restaurant, Hong Far Low, opened. In the 1800s and the 1900s, many Chinese immigrants came to Boston looking for work and for new opportunities. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese immigration was halted, and the population of Chinatown remained mostly male. There were many attempts to drive out the Chinese from Chinatown, including the widening of the main street (Harrison Avenue) which backfired and led to further development for the Chinese community. One example of the attempts to drive out the Chinese population was the murder of Wong Yak Chong in 1903 known as the Boston Chinatown immigration raid. The murder gave the police the opportunity to gather Chinese men and deport them. The police and immigration officials were able to arrest 234 people, and then eventually deport 45.
During the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 until the 1900s, the Chinese population in the United States almost halved, while the Chinese population in Massachusetts exponentially increased. In 1916 the Kwong Kow Chinese School was established to teach the community Chinese, specifically Taishanese. The population of Chinese in Boston were primarily from the Taishan, Guangdong where the dialect of Chinese is Taishanese. The school was heavily supported by the community, and by 1931 became a vital part of Chinatown.
A wave of immigrants from Lebanon and Syria in the late 1880s and early 1900s constituted a "Little Syria" in South Cove. While the community was largely Christian, as Muslims were often barred from settling in the US, Muslim shipyard workers lived in nearby Quincy and built the first purpose built mosque in New England. The community was later displaced by highway construction.
World War II created a shift in the public opinion of Chinese immigrants with the Republic of China being in the Allied nations. A new wave of Chinese immigrants entered the United States mostly in Chinatown, Boston during this time, after the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Post-World War II came with an influx of Hong Kong immigrants, who introduced new garment laborers and a new dialect. The language at the Kwong Kow Language School switched from Taishanese to Cantonese with the growing Hong Kong immigrant population.
In the 1950s, Chinatown saw a major increase in population after the Exclusion Act was abolished in 1943. In 1956 there still remained negative attitudes towards Chinatown and attempts to break down the community. The Urban Renewal Division of the Housing Authority tried to demolish most of the South Cove district in favor of urban development. However, before the demolition could occur Mayor John Collins created the Boston Redevelopment Authority to combat the Urban Renewal Division of the Housing Authority's attempt to destroy the community. Construction in the late 1950s, in what is known as the "central artery", affected many homes and businesses in Chinatown. The Massachusetts Turnpike, constructed in the 1960s, took away much of the land from Chinatown that had been used for businesses. After construction was completed, many businesses and homes in Chinatown were affected. Despite this, the population there continued to grow by at least 25%. During the late 19th century, manufacturing plants began to emerge in Chinatown for the garment stores that were thriving there. This became known as the historic garment district in Boston. However, the garment district only lasted until the 1990s due to the rising cost of rent, property sales, and the removal of homeowners.
Negotiations resulted in the provision of funds for the construction of new community housing in Chinatown. During this period, city officials also designated an area adjacent to Chinatown as Boston's red light district, also known as the Combat Zone. This zone, while still in existence, had almost disappeared by the 1990s for many reasons. These causes included city pressure, the rise of marketing movies on VHS home video, and the move of night clubs to the suburbs, where they became more upscale. A general increase in property values, which encouraged building sales and the removal of former tenants, also contributed. In the 21st century, much of the former Combat Zone has evolved into the Washington Street Theatre District.
Culture in early history There was a need for a sense of community for the Chinese men who had no family with them in Boston and worked six out of seven days of the week. Various grocery stores and restaurants began catering towards the normalcy of Chinese cuisine and culture. The village associations were a place for the men to create a connections to their far away families because they could exchange letters to them and talk with the other men like them. The gambling rings and ‘opium dens’ were frequent places to go to for leisure. Other groups sought to help the Chinese immigrants with assimilating to the United States. English lessons and other efforts to convert the Chinese immigrants to Protestantism were provided by multiple Protestant churches in Boston, as well as establishing the Young Men's Christian Association.
Modern day Chinatown remains a center of Asian American life in New England, hosting many Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants and markets. Chinatown is one of Boston's most densely populated residential districts, with over 28,000 people per square mile in the year 2000. Nearly 70% of Chinatown's population is Asian, compared with Boston's nine percent of Asian Americans overall."Boston Icons: 50 Symbols of Beantown." Chinatown. Scheff, Jonathan. Retrieved on September 5, 2012. Chinatown has a median household income of $14,289.
The traditional Chinatown Gate (paifang) with a foo lion on each side is located at the intersection of Beach Street and Surface Road. This was once a run-down area, housing little more than a ventilation-fan building for the Central Artery Tunnel; however, a garden was constructed at this site as part of the Big Dig project. The Gate is visible from the South Station Bus Terminal, and is a popular tourist destination and photo opportunity. Offered by the Taiwanese government to the City in 1982, the gate is engraved with two writings in Chinese: Tian Xia Wei Gong, a saying attributed to Sun Yat-sen that translates as "everything under the sky is for the people", and Li Yi Lian Chi, the four societal bonds of propriety, justice, integrity, and honor.