The working class neighborhood of Chinatown is home to many people of Chinese and Asian decent, as well as many other ethnicities.  Since the Chinese began moving into this area around the 1800s, many changes have been seen in the neighborhood.  For example beginning in 1999 the Chinese American community has celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year.  This event has attracted over 500,000 New Yorkers and tourists to Chinatown.  This tradition celebrates the traditions and cultures of China, Korea and Japan.

Chinese immigrants throughout the United States began arriving in New York during the late 1870s, mainly due to the amount of anti-Chinese violence in the western part of the country.  These newly arrived Chinese were forced to take low status jobs within the city.  Entering with the opening of several Chinese grocery and specialty stores was a Chinese community.  Unfortunately with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese workers were not able to bring their families or wives into America, creating the “bachelor society,” made up of laboring men, leading to the rise of prostitution within this neighborhood.  Finally during World War II the Chinese Exclusion Act and racial quota systems were abolished.  An expansion of Chinatown, which in 1980 indicated the largest settlement of Chinese Americans within the United State, resulted from a increase in Chinese immigration.  Nowadays Chinatown still represents the community of Chinese in New York City.  Areas like Columbus Park offer a close feeling of community between the residents of this neighborhood, even on a cold day, one can find many people, both elderly and young relaxing, conversing and interacting whether playing table games or practicing Tai Chi.

http://www.nychinatown.org/history/1800s.html

http://www.explorechinatown.com/GUI/Content.aspx-Page=Discover&Type=History.htm

http://www.explorechinatown.com/GUI/Content-16.aspx.htm

http://www.explorechinatown.com