121-538: The Asian-American influx into the southwestern portion of the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California , grew rapidly when Chinese immigrants began settling in Monterey Park in the 1970s. Just east of the city of Los Angeles , the region has achieved international prominence as a hub of overseas Chinese, or hua qiao . Although Chinese immigrants were a noteworthy presence in
242-711: A Buddhist temple, was built in 1988. Though the proposed development was opposed at the time by some local residents, it is now a respected and accepted part of the community, with members of the United States House of Representatives and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department often visiting during major events. The Hsi Lai Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in the Western Hemisphere. In addition to Rowland Heights and Hacienda Heights, Eastern San Gabriel Valley areas with
363-801: A Korean community. Taiwanese and Mainland Chinese, with number of ethnic Chinese from South Korea, and Vietnam, immigrant businesses, namely the eateries, banks, and offices, are gradually occupying the various strip malls across the Puente Hills Mall and in Hacienda Heights and City of Industry. The population is now 55 percent Asian. Rowland Heights remains the Chinese commercial/cultural center in East San Gabriel. Nearby, in Hacienda Heights , Hsi Lai Temple ,
484-530: A Gallup survey conducted from June to September 2012, 4.3% of Asian Americans self-identify as LGBT , compared to 3.4% of the general American population. This makes the Asian-American population disproportionately over-represented within the LGBT community. In a Gallup survey conducted in 2017, 4.9 percent of Asian Americans identified as LGBT, representing the second-highest growth of LGBT representation in
605-667: A PBS interview from 2004, a panel of Asian American writers discussed how some groups include people of Middle Eastern descent in the Asian American category. Asian American author Stewart Ikeda has noted, "The definition of 'Asian American' also frequently depends on who's asking, who's defining, in what context, and why... the possible definitions of 'Asian-Pacific American' are many, complex, and shifting... some scholars in Asian American Studies conferences suggest that Russians, Iranians, and Israelis all might fit
726-753: A coalition, recognizing that they shared common problems with racial discrimination and common opposition to American imperialism , particularly in Asia. The movement developed during the 1960s, inspired in part by the Civil Rights Movement and the protests against the Vietnam War . "Drawing influences from the Black Power and antiwar movements, the Asian American movement forged a coalitional politics that united Asians of varying ethnicities and declared solidarity with other Third World people in
847-402: A cultural or ancestral connection to a faith tradition despite their lack of formal religious affiliation. Conversely, Indian, Filipino, and Vietnamese Americans are considerably less likely to be religiously unaffiliated and more likely to express some form of connection to a religious tradition. The percentage of Christians among Asian Americans has sharply declined since the 1990s, chiefly as
968-528: A cultural or familial closeness to Christianity. This means that about 51% of Asian Americans express some connection to the Christian faith. Filipino and Korean Americans display particularly strong affiliations with Christianity. Among Filipino Americans, 74% identify as Christian, and when considering those who feel culturally close to Christianity, this figure rises to 90%. Among Korean Americans, 59% identify as Christians, and 81% express some connection to
1089-420: A disproportionately large number as Chief Marketing Officers. Alhambra, California Alhambra ( / æ l ˈ h æ m b r ə / , / ɑː l ˈ h ɑː m b r ə / , Spanish: [aˈlambɾa] ; from " Alhambra ") is a city located in the western San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California , United States, approximately 8 miles (13 km) from
1210-537: A drink of sweet tea , is a cultural touchstone of "626." Popular food festival 626 Night Market in Arcadia, California , was also named after the area code as a "mecca for the Chinese food-obsessed." From the 1970s on, Taiwanese immigrants began settling in Monterey Park and the nearby communities of Alhambra, and Rosemead. The area was not too far from the Los Angeles Chinatown commercial area and
1331-700: A growth from 26% in 2012. The majority of these individuals describe their religion as "nothing in particular" rather than explicitly identifying as atheist or agnostic. Despite a lack of formal religious affiliation, a significant number of religiously unaffiliated Asian Americans maintain a connection to various religious or philosophical traditions due to cultural or ancestral reasons. In total, only 12% of Asian Americans report having no connection to any religious or philosophical tradition. Among Asian Americans, Chinese and Japanese Americans are more likely to be religiously unaffiliated, with 56% and 47% respectively identifying as such. Both groups are also more likely to feel
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#17327979582251452-628: A heterogeneous group of people in the United States who can trace their ancestry to one or more countries in East, South, or Southeast Asia. Because they compose 7.3% of the entire US population, the diversity of the group is often disregarded in media and news discussions of "Asians" or of "Asian Americans". While there are some commonalities across ethnic subgroups, there are significant differences among different Asian ethnicities that are related to each group's history. The Asian American population
1573-545: A high percentage of Asian residents are West Covina , Walnut , and Diamond Bar . As of the 2000 census, the racial makeup of Temple City was 38.89% Asian. That number is expected to be significantly higher in the 2010 census. Along Las Tunas Boulevard, the "Bridal District" of Asian businesses along the stretch of the downtown area has made Temple City a bride's "mecca" for all wedding needs including elaborate dresses, as Asian brides often wear three gowns. Also included are several florists and lavish portrait studios supporting
1694-651: A mile northeast of the downtown Los Angeles Chinatown . From North Main Street, Valley runs east along a five-mile (8 km) stretch including large industrial tracts and the largely Hispanic community of Lincoln Heights . Midway between downtown Chinatown to the west and the start of the ethnic Chinese suburbs to the east is the Ming Ya Buddhist Temple, on Valley Boulevard in Lincoln Heights. From Los Angeles, Valley Boulevard enters Alhambra ,
1815-477: A quarter of all immigrants to the United States. Asians have made up an increasing proportion of the foreign-born Americans: "In 1960, Asians represented 5 percent of the U.S. foreign-born population; by 2014, their share grew to 30 percent of the nation's 42.4 million immigrants." As of 2016, "Asia is the second-largest region of birth (after Latin America) of U.S. immigrants." In 2013, China surpassed Mexico as
1936-497: A result of large-scale immigration from countries in which Christianity is a minority religion (China and India in particular). In 1990, 63% of the Asian Americans identified as Christians, while in 2001 only 43% did. This development has been accompanied by a rise in traditional Asian religions , with the people identifying with them doubling during the same decade. Because Asian Americans or their ancestors immigrated to
2057-621: A section of Barstow , Fontana , Riverside , Moreno Valley , San Jacinto , Desert Hot Springs north of Palm Springs , Victorville , Loma Linda , and elsewhere (i.e. the San Diego area, Bakersfield , and San Luis Obispo ). Outside the Greater Los Angeles Area , Chinese ethnoburbs are also found in the San Francisco Bay Area , where ethnic Chinese populations are largely concentrated in cities of
2178-748: A soldier from the Los Angeles Presidio. In 1820 Mexico won its independence from the Spanish crown and lands once ruled by them became part of the Mexican Republic. These lands then transferred into the hands of the United States following the defeat in the Mexican–American War . A wealthy developer, Benjamin Davis Wilson , married Ramona Yorba, daughter of Bernardo Yorba, who owned the land which would become Alhambra. With
2299-820: A strong and loyal fanbase among their fellow Asian Americans. There have been several Asian American-centric television shows in American media, beginning with Mr. T and Tina in 1976, and as recent as the TV series Fresh Off the Boat in 2015. In the Pacific, American beatboxer of Hawaii Chinese descent Jason Tom co-founded the Human Beatbox Academy to perpetuate the art of beatboxing through outreach performances, speaking engagements and workshops in Honolulu ,
2420-541: A travel package to Las Vegas or China. In 1992, the city of Alhambra and its southern neighbor Monterey Park jointly held the first annual Chinese new year parade and street festival. There were several conflicts and controversies with Monterey Park, so in the next few years the city of Alhambra has held the parade with its neighbor San Gabriel. The parade and festival have corporate sponsors, and several Chinese-dominant cities in San Gabriel Valley also sponsor
2541-473: Is among the communities in L.A. County with the highest percentage of Asian residents. Chinese and Mexican are the most common ancestries in Alhambra. As of 2020, 17% of Alhambra residents were under 18 years old, and 18% were 65 or older. During 2009–2013, Alhambra had a median household income of $ 54,148, with 13.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line. Approximately 40% of
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#17327979582252662-550: Is an "Asian Pacific American phenomenon". Rather than solely being a significant Chinese American cultural center, the area is a hub of much more extensive "multigenerational and multiethnic Asian American diversity." In the 21st century, many of the ethnoburbs in the San Gabriel Valley have expanded and thrived, and are becoming increasingly diverse - as well as congested. There are several suburban Chinese-oriented ethnoburbs in Southern California, including those in
2783-557: Is appointed by the City Council and oversees the day-to-day operations of ten City departments, 400 employees and a $ 145M budget. The current City Manager, Jessica Binnquist was appointed in 2018. In the California State Legislature , Alhambra is in the 22nd Senate District , represented by Democrat Susan Rubio , and in the 49th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Mike Fong . In
2904-705: Is bringing about the construction of additional hotels as many Chinese tourists prefer to rent rooms in San Gabriel, even if they plan to visit typical Southern California tourist destinations. The first generation of Chinese Americans in the area identify with 626 — the area code of much of the San Gabriel Valley. They are fluent in English but still identify with the culture of their parents. Many feel that something new has been created, such as songs mixing bits of dialect from across China with American hip-hop . The popularity of Boba , chewy tapioca pearls served in
3025-435: Is by country of origin before immigration to the United States, and not necessarily by ethnicity, as for example (nonexclusive), Singaporean Americans may be of Chinese , Indian , or Malay descent. Asian Americans include multiracial or mixed race persons with origins or ancestry in both the above groups and another race, or multiple of the above groups. According to estimates from the 2022 American Community Survey ,
3146-428: Is greatly urbanized , with nearly three-quarters of them living in metropolitan areas with population greater than 2.5 million. As of July 2015 , California had the largest population of Asian Americans of any state, and Hawaii was the only state where Asian Americans were the majority of the population. The demographics of Asian Americans can further be subdivided into, as listed in alphabetical order: This grouping
3267-477: Is now a well-known small Southern California chain. Shakey's Pizza also has its headquarters in Alhambra. According to the City of Alhambra 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the year ended June 2020, the city's top employers were: The Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Western America has its headquarters in Alhambra. Each year on Valley Boulevard, the cities of Alhambra and San Gabriel used to co-host
3388-486: Is one of the most prominent and features a 99 Ranch Market , several shops and restaurants including specialties such as Taiwanese and Vegetarian food. Valley Boulevard in San Gabriel also includes the comprehensive San Gabriel Superstore which includes multiple vendors anchored by a large grocery store. Continuing east from Rosemead further along Valley are the largely Hispanic communities of El Monte and La Puente and large industrial tracts, including those that dominate
3509-672: Is provided by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) as well as the Alhambra Community Transit . The California High-Speed Rail Authority is considering proposals to a build high-speed rail system through Alhambra along the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) corridor from the east city limits to west city limits. In late July 2010, the authority told the city that
3630-766: Is the 12-acre (49,000 m) "San Gabriel Square" mall that has been mentioned in the Los Angeles Times as "the great mall of China." This stretch of Chinese shops and bold architecture, with roofs of Spanish-style tile, is the model for the new ethnoburbs recently recognized in areas like the Las Vegas Valley and Houston . The conglomeration of restaurants and cafes, shops, markets, hair and nail salons, Asian video stores, health services, department stores, plus an extensive jewelry mart, provides 'something for everyone', from purchasing an expensive diamond and shopping for designer suits, to buying soy milk or
3751-655: Is the US Census Bureau definition, which includes all people with origins in East Asia , South Asia , and Southeast Asia . This is chiefly because the census definitions determine many governmental classifications, notably for equal opportunity programs and measurements. According to the Oxford English Dictionary , "Asian person" in the United States is most often thought of as a person of East Asian descent. In vernacular usage, "Asian"
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3872-554: Is the capital city of Taiwan .) The city council had tried, and failed, to pass English-only sign ordinances, because of safety issues for police and fire departments. In 1985, the City Council of Monterey Park approved drafting of a proposal that would require all businesses in Monterey Park to display English language identification on business signs. According to the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, within
3993-579: Is usually used to refer to those of East or Southeast Asian descent, with South Asians not included as often. This differs from the US census definition and the Asian American Studies departments in many universities consider all those of East, South, or Southeast Asian descent to be "Asian". In the US census , people with origins or ancestry in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia are classified as part of
4114-599: The 2030 census . Some Central Asian , ancestries, including Afghan, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, and Uzbek, were previously recognized as "White' but have since been designated as Asian as of 2023. The "Asian" census category includes people who indicate their race(s) on the census as "Asian" or reported entries such as " Chinese , Indian , Bangladeshi , Filipino , Vietnamese , Indonesian , Korean , Japanese , Pakistani , Malaysian , and Other Asian". In 2020, Americans who identified as Asian alone (19,886,049) or in combination with other races (4,114,949) made up 7.2% of
4235-638: The Asian race ; while those with origins or ancestry in West Asia ( Israelis , Turks , Persians , Kurds , Assyrians , Arabs , etc.) and the Caucasus ( Georgians , Armenians , Azerbaijanis , Chechens , Circassians , etc.) are classified under the "Middle Eastern and North African " race, and those with origins from Central Asia ( Kazakhs , Uzbeks , Turkmens , Tajiks , Kyrgyz , Afghans , etc.) are not mentioned in any racial definitions provided by
4356-513: The City of Industry . This ten-mile-long (16 km), largely industrial corridor includes many Asian owned wholesale businesses, including importers of electronics, food and furniture from Asia. North of La Puente is West Covina which is 26% Asian and south of La Puente is Hacienda Heights which is 36% Asian Hacienda Heights is home to the Hsi Lai Temple , the largest Buddhist temple in
4477-534: The Downtown Los Angeles civic center. It was incorporated on July 11, 1903. As of the 2020 census , the population was 82,868. The city's ZIP Codes are 91801 and 91803 (plus 91802 for P.O. boxes). The San Gabriel Mission was founded nearby on September 8, 1771, as part of the Spanish conquest and occupation of Alta California. The land that would later become Alhambra was part of a 300,000-acre (120,000 ha) land grant given to Armane Gutter,
4598-494: The East Bay and Santa Clara County . The most prominent Chinese ethnoburb in the region is found in the city of Milpitas , which has a population that is over 60% Asian as of the 2010 U.S. Census. Chinese-oriented shopping centers, markets, and community centers are spread around the city. Other suburbs which have large Chinese populations and commercial activity include Fremont , Cupertino , San Leandro , and Sunnyvale , with
4719-1547: The South Bay, Los Angeles , and San Fernando Valley , and may include South Asians . These include Sawtelle ( West Los Angeles ), San Pedro (due to its proximity to the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach), and Pasadena , though Pasadena's historic Japantowns are no longer hubs of the Japanese American communities. The towns of Artesia , Cerritos , Gardena , Hawaiian Gardens , La Mirada , Lakewood , Long Beach , Carson , Lomita , Norwalk , Redondo Beach , Torrance , and Whittier have some Asian-American neighborhoods and businesses/malls. Experts said they predict more Asian-oriented supermarkets of these types to open in other Inland cities in coming years, including Corona, California , whose Asian population jumped from 8 percent to 11 percent from 2000 to 2005. The same goes for Rancho Cucamonga , whose Asian population rose from 6 percent in 2000 to 8 percent in 2005. Other Asian ethnoburbs in Southern California are in Orange County, such as Anaheim , Buena Park , Costa Mesa , Garden Grove , Huntington Beach , Irvine , Laguna Beach , Laguna Niguel , La Palma , Orange , and Westminster . Chinese and Asian-American ethnoburbs also can be found in Chino , Chino Hills , San Bernardino , Calico,
4840-731: The United States House of Representatives , Alhambra is in California's 28th congressional district , represented by Democrat Judy Chu . The San Bernardino Freeway ( I-10 ) runs through the city's southern portions, and the Long Beach Freeway (I-710) has its northern terminus at Valley Boulevard in the far southwestern portions of the city. Major thoroughfares within the city include Atlantic and Valley Boulevards, Mission Road, Fremont and Garfield Avenues, and Main Street. Public transportation in Alhambra
4961-738: The Vietnam War . Asian American immigrants have a significant percentage of individuals who have already achieved professional status, a first among immigration groups. The number of Asian immigrants to the United States "grew from 491,000 in 1960 to about 12.8 million in 2014, representing a 2,597 percent increase." Asian Americans were the fastest-growing racial group between 2000 and 2010. By 2012, more immigrants came from Asia than from Latin America. In 2015, Pew Research Center found that from 2010 to 2015 more immigrants came from Asia than from Latin America, and that since 1965; Asians have made up
Chinese American enclaves in the San Gabriel Valley - Misplaced Pages Continue
5082-691: The use of the word American in different contexts. Immigration status, citizenship (by birthright and by naturalization), acculturation, and language ability are some variables that are used to define American for various purposes and may vary in formal and everyday usage. For example, restricting American to include only US citizens conflicts with discussions of Asian American businesses, which generally refer both to citizen and non-citizen owners. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey of Asian Americans found that 28% self-identify as "Asian", with 52% preferring to refer to themselves by more specific ethnic groupings and 10% simply self-identifying as "American". In
5203-509: The "Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley". Alhambra, which is 47% Asian according to the 2000 census, has a large number of Asian businesses along Valley Boulevard. Alhambra's Valley Boulevard boasts numerous noodle shops, Asian cafés and the original Sam Woo Barbecue restaurant. The artful Wing Lung Bank features the largest glass tile mural in North America, composed of 996,000 3/4" glass tiles. Each year, Alhambra and San Gabriel host one of
5324-399: The 17th century, large-scale immigration did not begin until the mid-19th century. Nativist immigration laws during the 1880s–1920s excluded various Asian groups, eventually prohibiting almost all Asian immigration to the continental United States. After immigration laws were reformed during the 1940s–1960s, abolishing national origins quotas , Asian immigration increased rapidly. Analyses of
5445-478: The 1942 internment of Japanese , and racial covenant laws , Asian economic and social assimilation were halted for many years. The only Asian cultural hubs were Chinatown and Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles , though populations persisted elsewhere. In 1961, Alfred Song became the first Asian American elected to the California State Assembly , representing Monterey Park . Since
5566-404: The 1950s, it had taken on an upscale look and was "the" place to go in the San Gabriel Valley. While many of the classic historical buildings have been torn down over the years, the rebuilding of Main Street has led to numerous dining, retail, and entertainment establishments. Alhambra has experienced waves of new immigrants, beginning with Italians in the 1950s, Mexicans in the 1960s, and Chinese in
5687-454: The 1980s. As a result, a very active Chinese business district has developed on Valley Boulevard , including Chinese supermarkets, restaurants, shops, banks, realtors, and medical offices. The Valley Boulevard corridor has become a national hub for many Asian-owned bank headquarters, and there are other nationally recognised retailers in the city. The historic Garfield Theatre, located at Valley Boulevard and Garfield Avenue from 1925 until 2001,
5808-451: The 2010 census have shown that, by percentage change, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States. As with other racial and ethnicity -based terms , formal and common usage have changed markedly through the short history of this term. Prior to the late 1960s, people of various Asian ancestries were usually referred to as Yellow , Oriental , Asiatic , Brown , Mongoloid , or Hindoo . Additionally,
5929-466: The American definition of 'Asian' originally included West Asian ethnic groups, particularly Turkish Americans , Armenian Americans , Assyrian Americans , Iranian Americans , Kurdish Americans , Jewish Americans of Middle Eastern descent, and certain Arab Americans , although in modern times, these groups are now considered Middle Eastern American and grouped under White Americans in
6050-574: The American economy. Asian Americans have been disproportionately successful in the hi-tech sectors of California's Silicon Valley, as evidenced by the Goldsea 100 Compilation of America's Most Successful Asian Entrepreneurs. Compared to their population base, Asian Americans today are well represented in the professional sector and tend to earn higher wages. The Goldsea compilation of Notable Asian American Professionals show that many have come to occupy high positions at leading US corporations, including
6171-616: The Asian American population was composed of the following groups: Not including Kazakh or Uzbek (Specified) (No group specified) In 2010, there were 2.8 million people (age 5 and older) who spoke one of the Chinese languages at home; after the Spanish language , it is the third most common language in the United States. Other sizable Asian languages are Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu) , Tagalog , Vietnamese , and Korean , with all four having more than 1 million speakers in
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#17327979582256292-575: The Asian tradition of taking studio quality photos of the bride and groom before the wedding. Asian brides come from as far away as New York City to visit this Temple City specialty sector. Valley Boulevard (former US 60 , US 70 and US 99 ) is a vital and growing professional and business sector that includes many Asian markets, eateries and other service-oriented businesses such as physicians and dentists. There are multiple Asian banks and Asian owned and operated enterprises that accommodate
6413-606: The Chinese community is now spread over a cluster of cities in the San Gabriel Valley. Suburban cities in the valley besides Monterey Park with large Chinese populations, also called ethnoburbs , include Alhambra , Arcadia , Rosemead , San Marino , San Gabriel , South Pasadena , and Temple City and then eastward to Chino Hills , Diamond Bar , the City of Industry , Hacienda Heights , Rowland Heights , Walnut , and West Covina . Numerous Mandarin , Hokkien , Hakka , Teochew , Shanghainese , and Cantonese speaking businesses have been established in these suburbs to accommodate
6534-540: The Chinese-style gateways, or paifang , found in the original Chinatown. In 1988, Monterey Park passed an ordinance declaring a moratorium on new building, in an attempt to regulate the rapid growth the city experienced as a result of the influx of Asian immigrants. This moratorium was challenged and defeated in 1989, but it caused many Asian residents and businesses to move to the neighboring city of Alhambra , later spreading easterly to more communities. By 1996,
6655-606: The Inland Empire. Residents and city leaders voiced opposition to the plan to route the high-speed trains through the city in public meetings. The local daily newspaper is the San Gabriel Valley Tribune . The regional daily newspaper is the Los Angeles Times . Around Alhambra is a local community paper published bi-monthly by the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce. Alhambra Source
6776-547: The Main St. auto row near Atlantic Boulevard. In recent years there has been an effort to revitalize Main St. from Atlantic Blvd. to Garfield Ave. Many new restaurants have been opening on Main St. as well as development of mixed-use buildings that have provided opportunities for more businesses to open and provide jobs. The Hat , a local icon, was opened in Alhambra in 1951. It was the original, family-owned outdoor restaurant, and
6897-611: The Midwick Tract (site of the former Midwick Country Club), the Airport Tract (formerly the landing pad for Alhambra Airport), and the Emery Park area. There are also a large number of condominiums, rental apartments, and mixed-use residential/commercial buildings, especially in the downtown area. Alhambra's main business district, at the intersection of Main and Garfield, has been a center of commerce since 1895. By
7018-653: The Philippines and Vietnam); and 8.3% were from West Asia . Prior to the 1960s, Asian immigrants and their descendants had organized and agitated for social or political purposes according to their particular ethnicity: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, or Asian Indian. The Asian American movement (a term coined by the Japanese American Yuji Ichioka and the Chinese American Emma Gee ) gathered all those groups into
7139-522: The San Gabriel Valley Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, which ran from Del Mar to Garfield Avenues. The event was of such significance to the majority Asian American demographic in Alhambra that it was broadcast live on Chinese radio, KWRM AM 1370, locally on KSCI-18, and later on worldwide cable and satellite TV. Now Alhambra alone runs the event within city limits without the parade. From 2001 to 2008, Alhambra
7260-455: The San Gabriel Valley. Unlike the official Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles, these "pocket" communities are not called "Chinatown" by the Chinese community there, but generally by the name of the city. Monterey Park has been called the "First Suburban Chinatown" due to it not being located in the downtown of a large city. The Asian communities in the San Gabriel Valley follow along a 25-mile (40 km) stretch of Valley Boulevard , covering
7381-408: The US population. Chinese, Indian, and Filipino Americans make up the largest share of the Asian American population with 5.5 million, 5.2 million, and 4.6 million people respectively. These numbers equal 23%, 20%, and 18% of the total Asian American population, or 1.5%, 1.2%, and 1.2% of the total US population. Although migrants from Asia have been in parts of the contemporary United States since
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#17327979582257502-482: The United States Census Bureau. As such, "Asian" and "African" ancestry are seen as racial categories only for the purpose of the census, with the definition referring to ancestry from parts of the Asian and African continents outside of West Asia, North Africa , and Central Asia . In 1980 and before, census forms listed particular Asian ancestries as separate groups, along with white and black or negro . Asian Americans had also been classified as "other". In 1977,
7623-430: The United States and abroad. Segments of the movement struggled for community control of education, provided social services and defended affordable housing in Asian ghettoes, organized exploited workers, protested against US imperialism, and built new multiethnic cultural institutions." William Wei described the movement as "rooted in a past history of oppression and a present struggle for liberation". The movement as such
7744-435: The United States from many different countries, each Asian American population has its own unique immigration history. Filipinos have been in the territories that would become the United States since the 16th century. In 1635, an "East Indian" is listed in Jamestown, Virginia ; preceding wider settlement of Indian immigrants on the East Coast in the 1790s and the West Coast in the 1800s. In 1763, Filipinos established
7865-499: The United States, behind Hispanic Americans . Religious affiliation of Asian Americans in 2023 According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from July 5, 2022, to January 27, 2023, the religious landscape of Asian Americans is both diverse and evolving. The survey reveals that 32% of Asian Americans are religiously unaffiliated, up from 26% in 2012. Christianity remains the largest faith group among Asian Americans at 34%, although it has seen an 8% decline since 2012. As of
7986-539: The United States, consolidating the prohibition of Asian immigration. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, resulting in the internment of Japanese Americans , among others. Over 100,000 people of Japanese descent, mostly on the West Coast, were forcibly removed, in an action later considered ineffective and racist. Japanese Americans were kept isolated in military camps just because of their race including children, old person and young generation. 'Issei:The first generation' and 'Children of
8107-605: The United States. In 2012, Alaska , California, Hawaii, Illinois , Massachusetts, Michigan , Nevada , New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington were publishing election material in Asian languages in accordance with the Voting Rights Act ; these languages include Tagalog, Mandarin Chinese , Vietnamese , Spanish, Hindi , and Bengali . Election materials were also available in Gujarati , Japanese , Khmer , Korean , and Thai . A 2013 poll found that 48 percent of Asian Americans considered media in their native language as their primary news source. The 2000 census found
8228-467: The United States. The temple encompasses 15 acres (61,000 m) and a floor area of 102,432 sq ft (9,516.2 m). The temple's Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD) and Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 AD) architecture is faithful to the traditional style of buildings, Chinese gardens , and statuary of ancient Chinese monasteries. Hsi Lai was built to serve as a spiritual and cultural center for those interested in learning Buddhism and Chinese culture . On
8349-530: The burgeoning Asian population. The Asian communities in the San Gabriel Valley follow along a 25-mile (40 km) stretch of Valley Boulevard covering the entire length of the San Gabriel Valley with Alhambra on the west side and Diamond Bar on the east side. Asian communities in the San Gabriel Valley extend as far north as San Marino and Arcadia and as far south as Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights . Valley Boulevard begins at Lincoln Park , off North Main Street near downtown Los Angeles , about
8470-463: The camps' are two great documentaries to represent the situation of Japanese American's during World War II. World War II-era legislation and judicial rulings gradually increased the ability of Asian Americans to immigrate and become naturalized citizens. Immigration rapidly increased following the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965 as well as the influx of refugees from conflicts occurring in Southeast Asia such as
8591-441: The census. The term "Asian American" was coined by historian-activists Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee in 1968 during the founding of the Asian American Political Alliance , and they were also credited with popularizing the term, which meant to be used to frame a new "inter-ethnic-pan-Asian American self-defining political group". This effort was part of New Left anti-war and anti-imperialist activism, directly opposing what
8712-477: The changing population. The history of the San Gabriel Valley, like much of the American West , included Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and south Asian settlers and pioneers in the mid-19th century. These Asian settlers worked the fields of grapes, citrus fruits, and other crops. They were also involved in the construction of early infrastructure for San Gabriel Valley. Due to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act ,
8833-641: The city is within the Alhambra Unified School District . The district's public elementary and middle schools (K–8) located in Alhambra are Martha Baldwin, Emery Park, Fremont, Garfield, Granada, Marguerita, William Northrup, Park, and Ramona. Additionally a small part of the city is assigned to Monterey Highlands K-8 in Monterey Park . The public high schools in Alhambra are: Alhambra High School , founded in 1898; Century High School; Independence High School; Mark Keppel High School ; and San Gabriel High School (which, despite its name,
8954-466: The city's 7.7-square-mile (20 km) limits, there are more than 60 Chinese restaurants, more than 50 realty companies, several Chinese supermarkets, scores of dental, medical, accounting and legal offices, and dozens of shopping centers. The Chinese American population in Monterey Park and San Gabriel Valley is relatively diverse in socioeconomics and region of origin, including overseas Chinese from Vietnam and Indonesia. In Monterey Park, 61.3 percent of
9075-546: The city's housing units were owner-occupied as of 2015–2019. The city is governed by a five-member city council; one member of the council is chosen as mayor. Council members are nominated by district and elected for four-year terms. Half of the council seats are up for election in each even-numbered year, which is held in a Tuesday after the first Monday in November during the California general election. The City Manager
9196-758: The continent of Asia (including naturalized Americans who are immigrants from specific regions in Asia and descendants of those immigrants). Although this term had historically been used for all the indigenous peoples of the continent of Asia, the usage of the term "Asian" by the United States Census Bureau is a race group that only includes people with origins or ancestry from East Asia , South Asia , Southeast Asia , and select parts of Central Asia and excludes people with ethnic origins in certain parts of Asia, including West Asia who will be categorized as Middle Eastern Americans starting from
9317-426: The diverse peoples of Asia, and for being considered a racial category instead of a non-racial "ethnic" category. This is namely due to the categorization of the racially different South Asians and East Asians as part of the same "race". Furthermore, it has been noted that West Asians (whom are not considered "Asian" under the US census) share some cultural similarities with Indians but very little with East Asians, with
9438-666: The east side of the San Gabriel Valley, before Valley Boulevard becomes Holt Avenue in Pomona , are the communities of Rowland Heights , Walnut and Diamond Bar . These three communities each have Asian populations of between 50 and 60%. Rowland Heights offers its own mini ethnic suburbia, including the businesses lining Colima Road (about one mile (1.6 km) south of Valley), Fullerton Road and Nogales Street. Indoor malls in Rowland Heights feature fine restaurants and chic Asian boutiques. Asian-American ethnoburbs can be found in
9559-467: The entire length of the valley, with Alhambra on the west side and Diamond Bar on the east side. Asian communities in the valley extend as far north as San Marino and Arcadia and as far south as Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights . San Gabriel has become a brand-name destination for Chinese tourists, especially in the business district around the San Gabriel Mall. This tourism boom
9680-435: The establishment of Southern California from the 19th century, significant Chinese migration to suburban San Gabriel Valley coincided with a trend of white out-migration from the 1970s onward. This opened an opportunity for middle-class Asian Americans to begin settling in the San Gabriel Valley. High property values, crime, and overcrowding in Monterey Park have contributed to a secondary movement away from that city, and
9801-456: The fact that "Asian American" is generally synonymous with people of East Asian descent, thereby excluding people of Southeast Asian and South Asian origin. Some South and Southeast Asian Americans may not identify with the Asian American label, instead describing themselves as "Brown Asians" or simply "Brown", due to the perceived racial and cultural differences between them and East Asian Americans. The demographics of Asian Americans describe
9922-401: The faith. Most Filipino Americans are Catholic (57%), whereas Korean Americans tend to be Protestant, with 34% identifying as evangelical Protestants. Religious disaffiliation among Asian Americans has been steadily increasing. 32% of Asian Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated, which encompasses individuals identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular". This represents
10043-552: The federal Office of Management and Budget issued a directive requiring government agencies to maintain statistics on racial groups, including on "Asian or Pacific Islander". By the 1990 census, "Asian or Pacific Islander (API)" was included as an explicit category, although respondents had to select one particular ancestry as a subcategory. Beginning with the 2000 census, two separate categories were used: "Asian American" and "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander". The definition of Asian American has variations that derive from
10164-418: The field's subject of study." Jeff Yang , of The Wall Street Journal , writes that the panethnic definition of Asian American is a unique American construct, and as an identity is "in beta ". The majority of Asian Americans feel ambivalence about the term "Asian American" as a term by which to identify themselves . Pyong Gap Min , a sociologist and Professor of Sociology at Queens College , has stated
10285-544: The first Japanese American naturalized US citizen in 1858. Chinese sailors first came to Hawaii in 1789, a few years after Captain James Cook came upon the island. Many settled and married Hawaiian women. Most Chinese, Korean and Japanese immigrants in Hawaii or San Francisco arrived in the 19th century as laborers to work on sugar plantations or construction place. There were thousands of Asians in Hawaii when it
10406-586: The first half of the 19th century, when Chang and Eng Bunker (the original "Siamese Twins") became naturalized citizens. Throughout the 20th century, acting roles in television, film, and theater were relatively few, and many available roles were for narrow, stereotypical characters. Bruce Lee (born in San Francisco, CA) only achieved movie stardom after leaving the United States for Hong Kong. More recently, young Asian American comedians and film-makers have found an outlet on YouTube allowing them to gain
10527-407: The former two having majority Asian American populations and the latter two with plurality Asian American populations as of the 2010 U.S. Census. List of cities and CDP with Chinese American (Including Taiwanese American ) population, according to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey and the 2010 United States Census. Asian American Asian Americans are Americans with ancestry from
10648-617: The islands from Spain following the latter's defeat in the Spanish–American War . Under United States law during this period, particularly the Naturalization Act of 1790 , only "free white persons" were eligible to naturalize as American citizens. Ineligibility for citizenship prevented Asian immigrants from accessing a variety of rights, such as voting. Bhicaji Balsara became the first known Indian-born person to gain naturalized US citizenship. Balsara's naturalization
10769-541: The largest Lunar Chinese New Year celebrations in the country which includes a parade along Valley Boulevard. Continuing east from Alhambra along Valley Boulevard are the cities of San Gabriel and Rosemead with San Marino , Temple City and Arcadia being further north and east. These five cities have Asian populations between 40 and 55% with a large number of Asian businesses in their various town centers. Along Valley Boulevard in San Gabriel are dozens of Asian mini-malls and hundreds of shops and restaurants. San Gabriel Square
10890-653: The latter two groups being classified as "Asian". Scholars have also found it difficult to determine why Asian Americans are considered a "race" while Americans of Hispanic and Latino heritage are a non-racial "ethnic group", given how the category of Asian Americans similarly comprises people with diverse origins. However, it has been argued that South Asians and East Asians can be "justifiably" grouped together because of Buddhism's origins in South Asia. In contrast, leading social sciences and humanities scholars of race and Asian American identity point out that because of
11011-449: The middle and working classes, from Taiwan and Mainland China, later followed. Settlement in the city picked up the pace in the 1980s, following opportunities created by the white flight from the San Gabriel Valley. Chinese shopping centers—with supermarkets serving as anchors—were developed to serve the new residents. As this unique phenomenon became known, Monterey Park was described as the "first suburban Chinatown" in North America, and
11132-535: The mining business and later in the construction of the transcontinental railroad . By 1852, the number of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco had jumped to more than 20,000. A wave of Japanese immigration to the United States began after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. In 1898, all Filipinos in the Philippine Islands became American nationals when the United States took over colonial rule of
11253-473: The more prominent languages of the Asian American community to include the Chinese languages ( Cantonese , Taishanese , and Hokkien ), Tagalog , Vietnamese , Korean , Japanese, Hindi, Urdu , Telugu , and Gujarati . In 2008, the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese languages are all used in elections in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Texas, and Washington state. According to
11374-531: The most recent Pew Research Center survey, approximately 34% of Asian American adults identify as Christians , a decrease from 42% in 2012. This decline is especially notable among Protestants, who currently constitute 16% of the Asian American population, down from 22% in 2012. Catholics, on the other hand, have maintained a relatively stable presence, making up 17% of the Asian American adult population, nearly unchanged from 19% in 2012. Beyond formal religious identification, an additional 18% of Asian Americans report
11495-442: The options under consideration included building tracks down the center of the freeway and parallel to the freeway along Ramona Road. As proposed, there would be a 50-foot-wide (15 m) deck set on top of 35-foot-high (11 m) posts placed every 100 feet (30 m). The proposal is part of the high-speed rail network currently planned for California. It is part of the line between Los Angeles's Union Station and San Diego, through
11616-522: The parade. This parade is broadcast on LA Chinese-language radio and on TV. Chi Mui became the city's first Chinese American mayor in 2006. The new San Gabriel Chinese aggregation served as the setting for the thriller novel The Jasmine Trade , authored by Denise Hamilton. Chinese businesses were formerly more spread out in Rowland Heights , an unincorporated area with a Chinese retail corridor on Colima Road and Nogales Street and intermixed with
11737-538: The passage of the 1965 Immigration Act , there has been an influx of some 20 million Asian immigrants to the United States, many of whom settled in Monterey Park due to its close proximity to Chinatown, suburban appeal, and "superior public education" to LAUSD . This continued through the 1970s with the arrival of ethnic Chinese refugees from Vietnam , affluent waisheng ren Taiwanese , and Mainland Chinese . While these San Gabriel neighborhoods contain prominent Chinese-language signage, these communities do not feature
11858-570: The persuasion of his daughter, Ruth, Yorba named the land after a book she was reading, Washington Irving 's Tales of the Alhambra , which he was inspired to write by his extended visit to the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain . Alhambra was founded as a suburb of Los Angeles that remained an unincorporated area during the mid-19th century. The first school in Alhambra was Ramona Convent Secondary School , built on hillside property donated by
11979-475: The population is Asian American, In Alhambra, Arcadia, and San Gabriel, the Asian population was 48.91 percent, as of the 2000 census. Montebello is also included as it has had a significant (almost 25%) Asian population for several decades after seceding from Monterey Park. The city of San Gabriel boasts a mixture of Asian, European, and North American cultures. Second- and third-generation Chinese Americans patronize its diverse array of stores and eateries. There
12100-412: The population of Monterey Park was 65% Asian, primarily Chinese. Given the San Gabriel Valley's rapidly increasing population of Asian-Americans (largely Chinese-Americans ), several business districts were developed to serve their needs. By 2000, many Chinatown residents and businesses had moved to the San Gabriel Valley. The creation of this major hub, which is a cultural center with many suburban cities,
12221-500: The prominent James de Barth Shorb family. Thirteen years before the city was incorporated, several prominent San Gabriel Valley families interested in the Catholic education of their daughters established the school in 1890. The city's first public high school, Alhambra High School , was established in 1898, five years before the city's incorporation. On July 11, 1903, the City of Alhambra was incorporated. The Alhambra Fire Department
12342-521: The racial constructions in the United States, including the social attitudes toward race and those of Asian ancestry, Asian Americans have a "shared racial experience". Because of this shared experience, the term Asian American is argued as still being a useful panethnic category because of the similarity of some experiences among Asian Americans, including stereotypes specific to people in this category. Despite this, others have stated that many Americans do not treat all Asian Americans equally, highlighting
12463-418: The removal of restrictive "national origins" quotas in 1965 , the Asian American population has diversified greatly to include more of the peoples with ancestry from various parts of Asia. Today, "Asian American" is the accepted term for most formal purposes, such as government and academic research, although it is often shortened to Asian in common usage. The most commonly used definition of Asian American
12584-465: The small settlement of Saint Malo, Louisiana , after fleeing mistreatment aboard Spanish ships . Since there were no Filipino women with them, these "Manilamen", as they were known, married Cajun and indigenous women. The first Japanese person to come to the United States, and stay any significant period of time was Nakahama Manjirō who reached the East Coast in 1841, and Joseph Heco became
12705-624: The south, and the Los Angeles districts of Monterey Hills and El Sereno on the west. The city has a total area of 7.6 square miles (20 km ), over 99% of which is land. As of 2020, Alhambra had a population of 82,868. Its population density was 10,887.4 inhabitants per square mile (4,203.6/km ). Approximately 51% of residents were Asian , 23% were White (9% non-Hispanic White), 2.2% were African American , 0.5% Native American , 0.3% Pacific Islander , 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36%. Alhambra
12826-459: The term is merely political, used by Asian American activists and further reinforced by the government. Beyond that, he feels that South Asians and East Asians do not have commonalities in "culture, physical characteristics, or pre-migrant historical experiences". Scholars have grappled with the accuracy, correctness, and usefulness of the term Asian American. The term "Asian" in Asian American most often comes under fire for only encompassing some of
12947-504: The top single country of origin for immigrants to the US. Asian immigrants "are more likely than the overall foreign-born population to be naturalized citizens"; in 2014, 59% of Asian immigrants had US citizenship, compared to 47% of all immigrants. Postwar Asian immigration to the US has been diverse: in 2014, 31% of Asian immigrants to the US were from East Asia (predominantly China and Korea); 27.7% were from South Asia (predominantly India); 32.6% were from Southeast Asia (predominantly
13068-536: The westernmost and southernmost major US city of the 50th US state of Hawaii . When Asian Americans were largely excluded from labor markets in the 19th century, they started their own businesses. They have started convenience and grocery stores, professional offices such as medical and law practices, laundries, restaurants, beauty-related ventures, hi-tech companies, and many other kinds of enterprises, becoming very successful and influential in American society. They have dramatically expanded their involvement across
13189-560: Was a hyperlocal , online-only news site operated from 2010 to 2020. The Alhambra Post-Advocate is the newspaper of general circulation adjudicated for the City of Alhambra and County of Los Angeles. It is currently published by the Wave Newspapers and is part of the Wave's East Edition. Car dealerships are the largest contributor to the local economy. Many car brands can be found in Alhambra. Most of these dealerships are found on
13310-509: Was annexed to the United States in 1898. Later, Filipinos also came to work as laborers, attracted by the job opportunities, although they were limited. Ryukyuans would start migrating to Hawaii in 1900. Large-scale migration from Asia to the United States began when Chinese immigrants arrived on the West Coast in the mid-19th century. Forming part of the California gold rush , these early Chinese immigrants participated intensively in
13431-582: Was becoming a Chinese-influenced community. This trend included affluent Chinese professionals, mostly from Taiwan. At that time, Monterey Park was being marketed by realtors in Taiwan and Hong Kong as the "Chinese Beverly Hills," to entice future investors. The crowded downtown L.A. Chinatown did not have room for the growing numbers of Chinese leaving Taiwan and Hong Kong for economic opportunities in America. Other Mandarin Chinese-speaking immigrants of
13552-616: Was confirmed as applying regardless of race or ancestry by the Supreme Court in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898). From the 1880s to the 1920s, the United States passed laws inaugurating an era of exclusion of Asian immigrants. Although the exact number of Asian immigrants was small compared to that of immigrants from other regions, much of it was concentrated in the West , and the increase caused some nativist sentiment which
13673-483: Was established in 1906. Alhambra is promoted as a "city of homes", and many of its homes have historical significance. They include styles such as craftsman, bungalow, Spanish Mediterranean, Spanish colonial, Italian beaux-arts, and arts and crafts. Twenty-six single-family residential areas have been designated historic neighborhoods by the city, including the Bean Tract (formerly owned by early resident Jacob Bean),
13794-471: Was featured in Forbes magazine, Time magazine, Los Angeles Times , and The Atlantic Monthly . Monterey Park's effect on tourism in Los Angeles was featured on the "Life and Times" show on the L.A. former-PBS affiliate KCET . Little Taipei (Chinese: 小臺北) was an informal name given to the city of Monterey Park, California, in the late 1970s because of the large immigrant population from Taiwan. ( Taipei
13915-501: Was formerly a vaudeville venue and is rumored to have hosted the Gumm Sisters, featuring a very young Judy Garland . Faded from its original glory, for its last few years it was purchased and ran Chinese-language films, and in 2001 went out of business. Subsequently, developers have remodeled the dilapidated building, turning it into a vibrant commercial center with many Chinese stores and eateries. In 2003, actress Lana Clarkson
14036-470: Was known as the " yellow peril ". Congress passed restrictive legislation which prohibited nearly all Chinese immigration to the United States in the 1880s. Japanese immigration was sharply curtailed by a diplomatic agreement in 1907. The Asiatic Barred Zone Act in 1917 further barred immigration from nearly all of Asia, the "Asiatic Zone". The Immigration Act of 1924 provided that no "alien ineligible for citizenship" could be admitted as an immigrant to
14157-404: Was most active during the 1960s and 1970s. Increasingly Asian American students demanded university-level research and teaching into Asian history and interaction with the United States. They support multiculturalism and support affirmative action but oppose colleges' quota on Asian students viewed as discriminatory. Asian Americans have been involved in the entertainment industry since
14278-483: Was not the norm but an exception; in a pair of cases, Ozawa v. United States (1922) and United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind (1923), the Supreme Court upheld the racial qualification for citizenship and ruled that Asians were not "white persons". Second-generation Asian Americans, however, could become US citizens due to the birthright citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment ; this guarantee
14399-467: Was shot to death in the Alhambra home of record producer Phil Spector . Spector lived in Alhambra's largest and most notable residence, the Pyrenees Castle, built in 1926. In 2009, Spector was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Clarkson's death. Alhambra is bordered by South Pasadena on the northwest, San Marino on the north, San Gabriel on the east, Monterey Park on
14520-688: Was the host of the Summer Jubilee, a street carnival and music concert held every Saturday, until its postponement due to loss of funds caused by the late 2000s recession . Alhambra is home to the Los Angeles campus of Platt College and the Los Angeles Campus of Alliant International University . The University of Southern California has a Health Sciences Alhambra campus, which hosts the university's Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research (IPR), and its master's degree program in public health . Almost all of
14641-445: Was viewed as an unjust Vietnam War . Prior to being included in the "Asian" category in the 1980s, many Americans of South Asian descent usually classified themselves as Caucasian or other . Changing patterns of immigration and an extensive period of exclusion of Asian immigrants have resulted in demographic changes that have in turn affected the formal and common understandings of what defines Asian American. For example, since
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