Ethnic Chinese in the United States form a diverse population. They are naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylees and those who hold legal nonimmigrant visas.
The largest concentrations of ethnic Chinese are in metropolitan areas. These communities are often identified by Chinatowns. They typically include family benevolent associations that provide social support, burial services, education and entertainment.
Chinatowns
A city’s Chinatown serves as a place for Chinese Americans to understand their heritage and identity. It also provides a portal for low-income immigrants to access services and affordable housing. The neighborhood also houses cultural organizations, including dance and music groups, children’s orchestras, artists and the Chinese Historical Society of America. These groups maintain the cultural distinctiveness of the neighborhood while fighting against racial resentment and prejudice that is still prevalent in the United States.
The development of Chinatowns grew out of both voluntary and involuntary forces. In a foreign land, a language barrier, economic hardship and housing discrimination forced immigrants to establish self-reliant enclaves for information sharing, lifestyle preservation, business transactions and kinship networking. This led to the emergence of urban Chinatowns. Then, as economic pressures pushed families to suburban areas for better housing and job opportunities, suburban Chinese communities popped up in places like Monterey Park, east of Los Angeles. The earliest suburban Asian enclaves were born.
Chinese immigrants
Chinese immigrants emigrated to the United States in large numbers during the California Gold Rush, seeking economic opportunities. Many of them were also fleeing natural disasters and social upheaval in China. They settled in ethnic neighborhoods, often called Chinatowns. These communities developed their own businesses, including laundries and restaurants, as well as public services such as street vendors and banking. They also organized themselves into benevolent and secret societies, or tongs, to provide community welfare services and protect their interests.
Initially, Chinese immigrants were nearly all men. They worked to earn money for their families back home in China, whom they hoped to rejoin someday. Due to the exclusion laws, they did not bring their wives to America with them.
By the turn of the century, however, most Chinese Texans lived in urban areas such as San Antonio and El Paso. They fought to preserve their Chinatowns and their culture through the Six Companies of benevolent societies, which gave them a public voice and protection against discrimination.
Chinese-Americans
The term Chinese Americans refers to people in the United States who identify as such, according to government statistics. This group encompasses those who report being Chinese only and those who also report a more detailed Asian group or another race or ethnicity.
During the gold rush of the 1848-1855 and during the building of the first transcontinental railroad, Chinese immigrants established Chinatowns in cities across the country. Some immigrants set up retail businesses, and others worked in agriculture or labored on construction sites.
Today, Chinese-Americans live throughout the country and are connected by many different types of social networks. Some are active in their local communities, participating in festivals and serving on board community organizations. Often, they are able to keep in touch with family members back home through social media and phone calls. In addition to preserving their traditions and culture, Chinese-Americans have made significant contributions in business, politics, science, education, medicine, arts, and the military.
Taiwanese immigrants
Taiwanese immigrants have a unique connection to the Chinese community. They are a significant part of the Chinese American population, and they have contributed to Bellevue’s culture in many ways. They have also forged strong connections with their homeland. The city’s sister city relationship with Hualien is a testament to the cultural ties between the two cities.
According to the 2010 Census, 358,460 Taiwanese immigrants live in the United States. They are the 23rd largest immigrant group. Unlike other groups, they are primarily based in metropolitan areas.
Many Taiwanese immigrants came to the United States as graduate students, and they subsequently settled in the country. They are more likely to choose their motherland as their racial label than other Chinese groups. This is partly due to the fact that they are more influenced by their motherland’s politics and identity. They also tend to have lower socioeconomic status than other Chinese groups.