Asian American Community in Chicago
The 2000 census estimates that APIs represent 3.4% of the total Illinois population and that the Chicago metropolitan area has seen an exponential API growth in the past 10 years. With the growing number of Asian Americans and diversification of the Asian Americans Community in Illinois, Asian Americans are quickly becoming one of key players in Chicago's and Illinois' politics and social circles. The following sections provide a brief introduction to some of Chicago's Asian American Communities. We hope that while attending the AAAS Conference, you will take the time to venture out to one of these communities.
Chinese Americans
Filipino Americans
Korean Americans
Japanese Americans
South Asian Americans
Southeast Asian Americans (Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese)
Chinese Americans
Shortly after the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, Chinese immigrant began to arrive in the Chicagoland area, primarily from the west, in pursuit of new opportunities. Historical records document that the first Chinatown in Chicago was established near Clark St. and Van Buren St. (Chicago's South Loop downtown area) and that the first Chinese owned laundry facility opened at 167 W. Madison St. In the early 1910's, Chinese and Chinese American leaders began to rent property near Wentworth and Cermak (heart of the current Chinatown) because of more reasonable rent oppertunities. South Loop downtown Chinatown co-existed with the new Southside Chinatown until 1975 when the City of Chicago began to redevelop the South Loop area to make room for the Metropolitan Correction Center.
Today, Chinese Americans make up the largest Asian ethnic group in Chicago and the third largest Asian ethnic group in Illinois. Because of such a large number of Chinese Americans in the Chicagoland area, Chicago is home to two Chinatowns: Southside Chinatown (conveniently located near the red line (Cermak-Chinatown exit)) and Northside (Argyle) Chinatown located in Uptown, Chicago (discussed in the Southeast Asian American section). With the arrival of more affluent immigrants from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong as well as upward mobility of Chinese Americans living within the city limits, a third Chinatown "ethnoburb" in Westmont, Illinois has develop.
For more information about Chicago's Chinese American community, please visit:
Chinese American Service League
http://www.caslservice.org/
Chinese Mutual Aid Association
http://www.chinesemutualaid.org/
Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
http://www.chicagochinatown.org/
Chinese American Museum of Chicago
http://www.ccamuseum.org/
Filipino Americans
Filipinos immigrants began to arrive in the Chicagoland area in the late 1890's as pensionado (government sponsored) students. It wasn't until 1965 with the passage of the Immigration Reform Act that a significant number of Filipinos began to immigrate to Chicago. Today, Filipino Americans make up the second largest Asian ethnic group in Chicago and in Illinois.
Historically, there has not been a Filipino-town established in Chicago like in Los Angeles. A significant percentage of Filipino Americans, however, reside on the Northside of Chicago, particularly in the Albany Park and North Park neighborhoods, and Suburbs such as Skokie and Niles.
For more information about Chicago's Filipino American Community, please visit:
Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago
http://www.smallgoofydog.com/fahsc/
http://www.thefilipino.com/filipinosinillinois.html
Korean Americans
A significant number of Koreans did not arrive to the Chicagoland area until 1965 with the reform of the Immigration Laws. Archival documents, however, indicate that Koreans began arriving to the Chicagoland area in the early 1900’s.
Today, Korean Americans are the fourth largest Asian ethnic group in Chicago and in Illinois, residing on the Northside neighborhoods of Chicago (i.e., Albany Park, West Ridge, Lincoln Square and North Park) and in suburbs such as Glenview, Skokie, Niles, Lincolnwood, and Morton Grove. The heart of Chicago's Koreatown is located in the Albany Park neighborhood and Lawrence Ave (running through the center of Albany Park) is often referred to as "Seoul Drive." For more information about Korean Americans in Chicago, please visit:
Korean American Resource & Cultural Center
http://www.chicagokrcc.org/
http://chicagokoreantown.com/
Japanese Americans
The first Japanese arrived to Chicago in 1893 for the World's Colombian Exposition. A significant number of Japanese Americans, however, arrived to the Chicagoland area during the U.S. War Relocation Authority's resettlement efforts between 1943-1050. Today, Japanese Americans make up one of the smallest Asian ethnic groups in the Chicagoland area because of low immigration rate and high interethnic/interracial marriages.
Historically, Japanese Americans have lived on the Southside of Chicago, particularly in the Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods as well as on the Northside near Division St. and Clark St. Today, Japanese Americans live all over the Chicagoland area, with a substantial number living on the Northside of Chicago (i.e., Rogers Park, Uptown, and Edgewater) and suburbs such as Arlington Height, Morton Grove, and Skokie. To learn more about Chicago’s Japanese American community, please visit:
Japanese American Citizens League
http://www.jaclchicago.org/
Japan America Society of Chicago
http://www.jaschicago.org/
Japanese American Service Committee of Chicago
http://www.jasc-chicago.org/
South Asian Americans
South Asian Americans
Chicago is home to a rich and diverse South Asian American population, representing Indian Americans, Pakistani Americans, Bangladeshi Americans and Sri Lankan Americans.
Current demographic models indicate that Indian Americans represent the largest percentage of South Asian Americans in Chicago and Illinois, as the third largest Asian ethnic group in Chicago, and the largest Asian ethnic group in Illinois.
Prior to the 1965 Immigration Reform Act, most South Asians entered the US as special fellows and students. After the reform of the Immigration Act however, a sizable number of South Asian immigrations began to arrive in Chicago as skilled workers and professionals.
Today, the heart of the South Asian American Community is defined as "Devon Street." Here hundreds of restaurants, businesses, organizations and newsprint agencies define the community. In recent years, a second concentration of South Asian American began to develop in the Du Page County’s suburbs of Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Oak Brook, and Villa Park and Cook County’s suburbs of Schaumburg and Mount Prospect.
For more information about Chicago’s South Asian American Community, please visit:
Chicago's Online Indo-Pak Community
http://www.devonavenue.com/
Indo-American Center
http://www.indoamerican.org
Asian Human Services
http://www.asianhumanservices.org/
Directions to "Devon Street":
log-on CTA's website at http://www.transitchicago.com/ and click on "Trip Planner."
Southeast Asian Americans
At the beginning of the 1980's, Southeast Asian Americans (Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese) unlike most other Asian ethic groups arrived to the Chicagoland area, as refugees, while immigrants from Thailand arrived in the Chicagoland area as early as the 1960's as part of the skilled labor force.
The heart of the Southeast Asian American Community can be defined as Uptown, and is often referred to as "New Chinatown," "Little Saigon," "Asian Village," and "International Shopping Center." Historically, this has been the first stop for many refugees arriving to Chicago because of the extensive network of Social Service Organizations and inexpensive rent. Today, many Southeast Americans come to Uptown to take part in cultural activities at the local Asian and Asian American Community Based Organizations, to shop, and to dine.
Uptown is conveniently located on the Northside of the City. To get to Uptown, take the red line and exit at the Argyle stop or the Lawrence stop. To learn more about the Southeast Asian American Community in Chicago, please visit one of the following Community Based Organizations' links:
Chinese Mutual Aid Association
http://www.chinesemutualaid.org/
Cambodian Association of Illinois
http://www.cambodian-association.org/
Lao American Community Services
http://www.caaelii.org/partner_agencies/lacs.htm
South East Asian Center
http://se-asiacenter.org/index.html
Thai Association of Illinois
http://www.thaiassociationofillinois.com/
Vietnamese Association of Illinois
http://www.hnvi.org/us/