List of U.S. cities with significant Chinese-American populations explained

U.S. cities with significant Chinese-American populations
Picsize:300px
Piccap:New York City is home to the largest Chinese-American population of any city proper, with over half a million.[1] Multiple large Chinatowns in Manhattan, Brooklyn (above), and Queens are thriving as traditionally urban enclaves, as large-scale Chinese immigration continues into New York,[2] [3] [4] [5] with the largest metropolitan Chinese population outside Asia.[6]

Cities considered to have significant Chinese-American populations are large U.S. cities or municipalities with a critical mass of at least 1% of the total urban population; medium-sized cities with a critical mass of at least 1% of their total population; and small cities with a critical mass of at least 10% of the total population.

According to the 2012 Census estimates,[7] the three metropolitan areas with the largest Chinese-American populations were the Greater New York Combined Statistical Area at 735,019 people, the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Combined Statistical Area at 629,243 people, and the Greater Los Angeles Combined Statistical Area at about 566,968 people. In the post-1965 era, first- and second-generation immigrants include those from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Also included in the Chinese-American population enumeration are ethnic Chinese from Malaysia and Vietnam who might identify themselves as Chinese, thus skewing the census reporting.

New York City is home to by far the highest Chinese-American population of any city proper, with an estimated 573,388 Chinese-Americans in New York City,[1] significantly higher than the total of the next five cities combined; multiple large Chinatowns in Manhattan, Brooklyn (three), and Queens (three) are thriving as traditionally urban enclaves, as large-scale Chinese immigration continues into New York,[8] [9] [10] [11] with the largest metropolitan Chinese population outside Asia.[12] The Los Angeles County city of Monterey Park has the highest percentage of Chinese-Americans of any municipality, at 43.7% of its population, or 24,758 people. The San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County is the single largest concentration of combined Chinese and Taiwanese Americans in the country,[13] having a collections of U.S. suburbs with large foreign-born Chinese-speaking populations, ranging from working-class individuals residing in Rosemead and El Monte to wealthier immigrants living in Arcadia, San Marino, and Diamond Bar. A similar demographic shift has also taken place in the southern half of the San Francisco Bay Area. Conversely, the suburbs of New York City within the state of New Jersey are notable for their widespread and increasing prevalence of Chinese-Americans (see list below), reflecting their general affluence and propensity for professional occupation.

Metropolitan areas with more than 20,000 Chinese-Americans

The list of metropolitan areas with a Chinese-American population of 20,000 or more .

RankMSARegionChinese-AmericansPercentage
align=center 1New York-Newark-Jersey CityMid-Atlanticalign=right align=right
align=center 2Los Angeles-Long Beach-AnaheimPacificalign=right align=right
align=center 3San Francisco-Oakland-HaywardPacificalign=right align=right
align=center 4San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa ClaraPacificalign=right align=right
align=center 5Boston-Cambridge-NewtonNew Englandalign=right align=right
align=center 6Chicago-Naperville-ElginEast North Centralalign=right align=right
align=center 7Washington-Arlington-AlexandriaSouth Atlanticalign=right align=right
align=center 8Seattle-Tacoma-BellevuePacificalign=right align=right
align=center 9Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandWest South Centralalign=right align=right
align=center 10Philadelphia-Camden-WilmingtonMid-Atlanticalign=right align=right
align=center 11Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-ArcadePacificalign=right align=right
align=center 12Dallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonWest South Centralalign=right align=right
align=center 13San Diego-CarlsbadPacificalign=right align=right
align=center 14Urban HonoluluPacificalign=right align=right
align=center 15Riverside-San Bernardino-OntarioPacificalign=right align=right
align=center 16Atlanta-Sandy Springs-RoswellSouth Atlanticalign=right align=right
align=center 17Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm BeachSouth Atlanticalign=right align=right
align=center 18Portland-Vancouver-HillsboroPacificalign=right align=right
align=center 19Las Vegas-Henderson-ParadisePacificalign=right align=right
align=center 20Phoenix-Mesa-ScottsdaleMountainalign=right align=right
align=center 21Minneapolis-St. Paul-BloomingtonWest North Centralalign=right align=right
align=center 22Detroit-Warren-DearbornEast North Centralalign=right align=right
align=center 23Baltimore-Columbia-TowsonSouth Atlanticalign=right align=right
align=center 24Austin-Round RockWest South Centralalign=right align=right

Large-sized cities

The list of large cities (population greater than 250,000) with a Chinese-American population of at least 1% of the total population, .

RankCityStateChinese-AmericansPercentage
align=center 1San FranciscoCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 2IrvineCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 3OaklandCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 4San JoseCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 5New YorkNew Yorkalign=right align=right
align=center 6PlanoTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 7HonoluluHawaiialign=right align=right
align=center 8BostonMassachusettsalign=right align=right
align=center 9SeattleWashingtonalign=right align=right
align=center 10SacramentoCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 11Jersey CityNew Jerseyalign=right align=right
align=center 12San DiegoCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 13FairfaxVirginiaalign=right align=right
align=center 14PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaalign=right align=right
align=center 15PittsburghPennsylvaniaalign=right align=right
align=center 16StocktonCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 17PortlandOregonalign=right align=right
align=center 18Los AngelesCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 19ChicagoIllinoisalign=right align=right
align=center 20AustinTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 21DurhamNorth Carolinaalign=right align=right
align=center 22HoustonTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 23RiversideCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 24AnaheimCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 25ColumbusOhioalign=right align=right
align=center 26HendersonNevadaalign=right align=right
align=center 27RaleighNorth Carolinaalign=right align=right
align=center 28LexingtonKentuckyalign=right align=right
align=center 29WashingtonDistrict of Columbiaalign=right align=right
align=center 30Long BeachCaliforniaalign=right align=right

New York City boroughs

See main article: article and Chinese Americans in New York City.

See also: Asian Americans in New York City. As the city proper with the nation's largest Chinese-American population by a wide margin, with an estimated 562,205 in 2016 by the 2010-2016 American Community Survey, and as the primary destination for new Chinese immigrants,[3] New York City is subdivided into official municipal boroughs, which themselves are home to significant Chinese populations, with Brooklyn and Queens, adjacently located on Long Island, leading the fastest growth.[14] [15] After the City of New York itself, the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn encompass the largest Chinese populations, respectively, of all municipalities in the United States.

RankBoroughCountyChinese-AmericansPercentage
align=center 1Queensalign=right align=right
align=center 2align=right align=right
align=center 3New Yorkalign=right align=right
align=center 4Staten IslandRichmondalign=right align=right
align=center 5The BronxBronxalign=right align=right

Medium-sized cities

List of medium-sized cities (population between 100,000 and 250,000) with a Chinese-American population of at least one percent of the total population, according to the American Community Survey.

2010-2016
RankCityStateChinese-AmericansPercentage
align=center 1Daly CityCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 2FremontCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 3El MonteCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 4SunnyvaleCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 5BellevueWashingtonalign=right align=right
align=center 6West CovinaCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 7BerkeleyCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 8Elk GroveCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 9CambridgeMassachusettsalign=right align=right
align=center 10PasadenaCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 11Ann ArborMichiganalign=right align=right
align=center 12TorranceCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 13Spring ValleyNevadaalign=right align=right
align=center 14RichmondCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 15EnterpriseNevadaalign=right align=right
align=center 16HaywardCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 17NapervilleIllinoisalign=right align=right
align=center 18FullertonCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 19RichardsonTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 20College StationTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 21Thousand OaksCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 22Rancho CucamongaCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 23CaryNorth Carolinaalign=right align=right
align=center 24PomonaCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 25Jersey CityNew Jerseyalign=right align=right
align=center 26ConcordCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 27MadisonWisconsinalign=right align=right
align=center 28TempeArizonaalign=right align=right
align=center 29New HavenConnecticutalign=right align=right
align=center 30KentWashingtonalign=right align=right
align=center 31AntiochCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 32ChandlerArizonaalign=right align=right
align=center 33OrangeCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 34ColumbiaMissourialign=right align=right
align=center 35ArlingtonVirginiaalign=right align=right
align=center 36Huntington BeachCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 37BoulderColoradoalign=right align=right
align=center 38GainesvilleFloridaalign=right align=right
align=center 39GlendaleCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 40DurhamNorth Carolinaalign=right align=right
align=center 41Garden GroveCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 42StamfordConnecticutalign=right align=right
align=center 43Salt Lake CityUtahalign=right align=right
align=center 44EugeneOregonalign=right align=right
align=center 45SyracuseNew Yorkalign=right align=right
align=center 46NorwalkCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 47ProvidenceRhode Islandalign=right align=right
align=center 48FriscoTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 49MiramarFloridaalign=right align=right
align=center 50NormanOklahomaalign=right align=right
align=center 51CarlsbadCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 52Overland ParkKansasalign=right align=right
align=center 53Costa MesaCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 54RochesterMinnesotaalign=right align=right
align=center 55BurbankCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 56Simi ValleyCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 57FairfieldCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 58CarrolltonTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 59WorcesterMassachusettsalign=right align=right
align=center 60RosevilleCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 61CoronaCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 62VallejoCaliforniaalign=right align=right
align=center 63VancouverWashingtonalign=right align=right
align=center 64Fort CollinsColoradoalign=right align=right
align=center 65DentonTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 66PearlandTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 67GarlandTexasalign=right align=right
align=center 68Baton RougeLouisianaalign=right align=right
align=center 69AthensGeorgiaalign=right align=right

Small-sized cities

The following is a list of places in the United States with a population fewer than 100,000 in which at least three percent (five percent in Los Angeles or San Francisco Bay areas) of the total population is Chinese, according to the 2010-2015 American Community Survey, and the 2010 U.S. Census for the U.S. territories.

California

CityCountyChinese-AmericansPercentage
DavisYoloalign=right align=right
Isla VistaSanta Barbaraalign=right align=right
FlorinSacramentoalign=right align=right
Greater Los Angeles Area

See main article: article and Chinese enclaves in the San Gabriel Valley. The majority of the Chinese-American population of more than 400,000 in Los Angeles County lives within the San Gabriel Valley, which is particularly noted for cities that have a large Chinese-American ethnic plurality. The following cities have the highest percentage of Chinese-Americans in Greater Los Angeles.

2010-2015
RankCityCountyChinese-AmericansPercentage
align=center 1ArcadiaLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 2Monterey ParkLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 3Temple CityLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 4San MarinoLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 5San GabrielLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 6East San GabrielLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 7AlhambraLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 8Rowland HeightsLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 9RosemeadLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 10WalnutLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 11Hacienda HeightsLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 12Diamond BarLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 13North El MonteLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 14South San GabrielLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 15Mayflower VillageLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 16East PasadenaLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 17BradburyLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 18CerritosLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 19South PasadenaLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 20Chino HillsSan Bernardinoalign=right align=right
align=center 21La Habra HeightsLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 22San PasqualLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 23Rancho Palos VerdesLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 24EastvaleRiversidealign=right align=right
align=center 25Palos Verdes EstatesLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 26ArtesiaLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 27Baldwin ParkLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 28ClaremontLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 29Rolling HillsLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 30MonroviaLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 31Rolling Hills EstatesLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 32Sierra MadreLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 33La PalmaOrangealign=right align=right
align=center 34Oak ParkVenturaalign=right align=right
align=center 35San DimasLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 36DuarteLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 37CypressOrangealign=right align=right
align=center 38Avocado HeightsLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 39MontebelloLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 40South El MonteLos Angelesalign=right align=right
align=center 41Yorba LindaOrangealign=right align=right
align=center 42Fountain ValleyOrangealign=right align=right
San Francisco Bay AreaTraditionally centered in San Francisco and Chinatown Oakland, the suburbanization of the Bay Area's Chinese-American population has resulted in significant concentrations in the southwestern East Bay, eastern Peninsula, and northern Santa Clara County. Chinese enclaves have also formed in many of these cities, in a similar manner to that of Southern California's San Gabriel Valley.
2010-2015
RankCityCountyChinese-AmericansPercentage
align=center 1MillbraeSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 2CupertinoSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 3Camino TassajaraContra Costaalign=right align=right
align=center 4Foster CitySan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 5SaratogaSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 6Highlands-Baywood ParkSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 7HillsboroughSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 8BroadmoorSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 9Palo AltoSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 10Los Altos HillsSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 11San LeandroAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 12AlbanyAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 13LoyolaSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 14StanfordSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 15AlamedaAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 16MilpitasSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 17Los AltosSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 18PiedmontAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 19Castro ValleyAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 20San RamonContra Costaalign=right align=right
align=center 21Mountain ViewSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 22El CerritoContra Costaalign=right align=right
align=center 23South San FranciscoSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 24Union CityAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 25San BrunoSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 26BurlingameSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 27EmeryvilleAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 28DublinAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 29BelmontSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 30San MateoSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 31BrisbaneSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 32San LorenzoAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 33MoragaContra Costaalign=right align=right
align=center 34BlackhawkContra Costaalign=right align=right
align=center 35HerculesContra Costaalign=right align=right
align=center 36FruitdaleSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 37OrindaContra Costaalign=right align=right
align=center 38AthertonSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 39PleasantonAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 40AshlandAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 41PacificaSan Mateoalign=right align=right
align=center 42NewarkAlamedaalign=right align=right
align=center 43CampbellSanta Claraalign=right align=right
align=center 44ColmaSan Mateoalign=right align=right

Georgia

RankCityPercentage
1Berkeley Lake, Georgiaalign=right
2Duluth, Georgiaalign=right
3Doraville, Georgiaalign=right

Guam

RankCity [17] Percentage
1Tamuning (including Tumon)align=right
2Hagåtñaalign=right

Hawaii

RankCityCountyChinese-AmericansPercentage
align=center 1East HonoluluHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 2KalaheoKauaialign=right align=right
align=center 3WaimeaKauaialign=right align=right
align=center 4VolcanoHawaiialign=right align=right
align=center 5AieaHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 6HalawaHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 7LaieHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 8He'eiaHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 9Ko OlinaHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 10Pearl CityHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 11KaneoheHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 12WaikeleHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 13PunaluuHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 14Wailuā HomesteadsKauaialign=right align=right
align=center 15Discovery HarbourHawaiialign=right align=right
align=center 16MaunawiliHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 17WailukuMauialign=right align=right
align=center 18KailuaHonolulualign=right align=right
align=center 19WaimaluHonolulualign=right align=right

Indiana

RankCityPercentage
1West Lafayettealign=right
2Carmelalign=right

New Jersey

RankCityPercentage
align=center 1align=right
align=center 2Holmdel Townshipalign=right
align=center 3align=right
align=center 4align=right
align=center 5align=right
align=center 6align=right
align=center 7align=right
align=center 8align=right
align=center 9align=right
align=center 10align=right
align=center 11align=right
align=center 12align=right
align=center 13align=right
align=center 14align=right
align=center 15align=right
align=center 16align=right
align=center 17align=right
align=center 18align=right
align=center 19align=right
align=center 20align=right
align=center 21align=right
align=center 22align=right
align=center 23align=right
align=center 24align=right
align=center 25align=right
align=center 26align=right
align=center 27align=right
align=center 28align=right
align=center 29align=right
align=center 30align=right
align=center 31align=right
align=center 32align=right
align=center 33align=right
align=center 34align=right

Northern Mariana Islands

RankCity [18] Percentage
1Tinianalign=right
2Saipanalign=right

Within Saipan, villages with significant Chinese populations include Garapan (19.7% Chinese), Chalan Piao (18.1% Chinese), Chalan Kanoa IV (15.1% Chinese), and San Antonio (19.8% Chinese).[18]

Ohio

[19]

RankCityPercentage
1Glenwillowalign=right
2Solonalign=right
3Oxfordalign=right
4Athensalign=right
5Dublinalign=right

Texas

RankCityPercentage
1Sugar Landalign=right
2New Territoryalign=right
3Bellairealign=right
4Richardsonalign=right
5align=right

Washington

The overwhelming majority of these cities are in King County, while three others (Edmonds, Lynnwood, and Mill Creek) are in Snohomish County. Pullman is in Whitman County.

RankCityPercentage
1Newcastlealign=right
2Redmondalign=right
3Sammamishalign=right
4Mercer Islandalign=right
5Clyde Hillalign=right
6Pullmanalign=right
7West Lakealign=right
8Bryn Mawr-Skywayalign=right
9Shorelinealign=right

See also

References

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SELECTED POPULATION PROFILE IN THE UNITED STATES - 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates - New York City - Chinese alone. U.S. Census Bureau. September 22, 2015. https://archive.today/20200214004426/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201/1600000US3651000/popgroup~016. February 14, 2020. dead.
  2. Web site: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2013 Supplemental Table 2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2014-10-01.
  3. Web site: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2012 Supplemental Table 2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2014-02-23.
  4. Web site: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2011 Supplemental Table 2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2014-02-23.
  5. News: Malaysian man smuggled illegal Chinese immigrants into Brooklyn using Queen Mary 2: authorities. John Marzulli. © Copyright 2012 NY Daily News.com. May 9, 2011. 2014-02-23 . New York.
  6. Web site: Chinese New Year 2012 in Flushing. QueensBuzz.com. January 25, 2012. 2014-02-23.
  7. Web site: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA. https://archive.today/20200212212412/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_1YR_DP05&prodType=table. dead. 2020-02-12. U.S. Census Bureau. 2013-10-27.
  8. Web site: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2012 Supplemental Table 2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2014-02-22.
  9. Web site: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2011 Supplemental Table 2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2014-02-22.
  10. Web site: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2010 Supplemental Table 2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2014-02-22.
  11. News: Malaysian man smuggled illegal Chinese immigrants into Brooklyn using Queen Mary 2: authorities. John Marzulli. © Copyright 2012 NY Daily News.com. May 9, 2011. 2014-02-22 . New York.
  12. Web site: Chinese New Year 2012 in Flushing. QueensBuzz.com. January 25, 2012. 2014-02-22.
  13. Web site: About the San Gabriel Valley. Advancingjustu=ice-la.org. 27 May 2018.
  14. Web site: Kings County (Brooklyn Borough), New York QuickLinks. U.S. Census Bureau. 2014-03-04.
  15. Web site: Queens County (Queens Borough), New York QuickLinks. U.S. Census Bureau. 2014-03-04.
  16. U.S. Census Bureau. American FactFinder - 2010 summary file [Geography set to "Atu'u village, American Samoa".] URL unavailable.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau. American FactFinder. 2010 summary file [Geography set to "Tamuning village, Guam" / "Hagatna village, Guam"]. URL unavailable.
  18. U.S. Census Bureau. American FactFinder. 2010 summary file [Geography set to "Tinian municipality, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands" / "Saipan municipality, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands"]. URL unavailable.
  19. Web site: American FactFinder - Results . 2012-11-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140305164937/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1&prodType=table . 2014-03-05 .