Oakland contains one of the oldest Chinatowns in the U.S. The neighborhood is home to the Asian Branch of the Oakland Public Library and a diverse group of residents from various backgrounds.
Oakland’s Chinatown was founded in the 1850s, when a large number of Chinese immigrants came to the Bay Area in hopes of participating in the Gold Rush. While many moved to San Francisco, a significant number settled near the Oakland Estuary at 1st Street and Castro. However, the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882—which prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the U.S.—prompted a slew of segregative local action against Chinese residents, forcing them to move to a neighborhood centered at 8th and Webster Streets, where Chinatown is currently located.
Employment and job discrimination was also rampant against Asian residents. The Chinese Exclusion Act helped stall Chinatown’s growth until 1906, when the San Francisco earthquake prompted a significant number of locals to move to Oakland. Many Chinese residents moved to Chinatown, which remained relatively segregated from the rest of Oakland. Chinatown’s population continued to grow in the first half of the 20th century as new immigrants from the Philippines, Japan, and Korea found their way to the district. The repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act during World War II—as the U.S allied with China and had a greater need for workers and soldiers—coincided with a 37% increase in Chinatown’s population in the 1940s. Chinatown continued to grow thereafter, as a new wave of Chinese and Southeast Asian immigrants moved to Oakland, especially following the Vietnam War.
Today, Chinatown is home to a variety of Asian restaurants, businesses, and institutions. At the Asian Branch of the Oakland Public Library, one can find books, magazines, and newspapers in eight different Asian languages. The library is located within the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, which also contains the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. The Center houses cultural performances, classes, and workshops, among other programs. Oakland Chinatown remains an important cultural and economic center for new immigrants and long-time East Bay residents today.
Cover image credit: Visit Oakland
