Is Chicago the Most Underrated City for Asian Americans?

t may be the nation's third largest city but to many AA Chicago is terra incognita. The first question it provokes is, Why would an Asian American want to live there? They are surprised to learn that, in fact, the greater Chicago area hosts the eighth largest Asian American population. Of the area's 8.4 million population, Asians comprise 5.4% or 450,000.
Chicago
Most underrated AA city?

     Chinese began settling the area in 1870. Most were railroad workers at loose ends after the last stretch of tracks were laid on the Transcontinental Railroad. More began moving out to escape the extreme anti-Asian racism raging out of control on the west coast until the mid-1940s. Their first visible community was the area now known as South Chinatown on Chicago's South Side. At its height this original Chinatown, centered around Wentworth and Cermak, was lively enough to support 170 restaurants. Now, that number has shrunk to about 43, in part due to various redevelopment projects that cut the area down to less than a quarter its original area.
     The new wave of Asian immigrants that began arriving in the 60s and 70s has shifted the Asian action northward. A second Chinatown, populated mostly by Vietnamese Chinese, has grown up around North Broadway and Argyle Street. A few blocks to the west a Koreatown is emerging along Lawrence Avenue. Nearby Devon Avenue is home to thriving South Asian establishments. There's even a small Japanese enclave closer to downtown along Clark and Halstead, right alongside a budding Thai area. These ethnic enclaves give the Chicago area's Asian Americans a tangible connection to their heritages but they are home only to the newest of Asian immigrants. Most established AA have faded into suburbs like Skokie, Evanston and even Highland Park.
     Enough young Chicago-area AA professionals and students cherish their cultural ties to support the nation's only Asian American Jazz Festival, a popular annual event that draws healthy crowds. Other AA organizations include the local chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals, the Asian American Artists Collective, an AA Film Festival and various student groups based in local university campuses.
     Chicagoland AA have begun to recognize the need to organize if they are to avoid becoming political casualties and orphans as during the various redistricting battles of the early 90s. But the Asian population remains dispersed, lacking the concentrations needed to consolidate political power in the form of viable candidates. This lack of concentration is the factor most often cited to support the view that Asians remain irrelevancies in the Windy City's socioeconomic landscape.
     Is Chicago really a cultural wasteland suitable only for Asians indifferent to their heritages? Or is it just the most underappreciated city among AA?

(Updated )

I speak here as a native Chicagoan. Chicagoland is a wonderful place for all ethnic groups, including Asian Americans. It really does have everything, culture, sports, universities, architecture, recreation, transportation, etc. Of course, it has all the big-metro problems of crime, drugs, gangs, poverty, etc. This does not diminish it's greatness by one iota.

While segregation, particulary when imposed by others, is never a good thing, Chicago's ethnic neighborhoods give the city a charming and eclectic character. Moreover, many ethnic neighborhoods tend change over time and gradually blend into each other, rather than staying the same for generations within strict boundaries. Throw in the gentrification factor, and you have a very dynamic and active city.

One thing I will say is that I somewhat resent the statement that "established" Asians have "faded" into suburbs like Skokie (I grew up and lived in Skokie for 20 years). My parents still live their and the village is now over 20% Asian American, including 4,000 Indians, 3,000 Filipinos, and 2,500 Koreans. Skokie is a thriving multicultural community that totally embraces its diversity, and its Asian flavor is now almost as strong as its traditionally Jewish one. Many, maybe even most, new Asian immigrants now settle directly to the suburbs where they're not "fading" into a white-bread society. Suburbs like Des Plaines, Schaumburg, Naperville are home to large and visible Asian communities, and are well on their way to making their mark in businesses, industry (especially high-tech), schools, and government. Even super-wealthy Oak Brook is 20% Asian now.

Anyways, Chicago, with all its warts, is a fantastic place for Asian Americans of all ages to settle.
Mihir Shah
mihirpshah1@yahoo.com    Thursday, May 09, 2002 at 05:53:14 (PDT)
I visited the Scottsdale/Phoenix area earlier this year, and would like to relocate there. The weather is great and it's not so crowded. I am an umemployed mainframe programmer thinking of buying a business. Does anyone have any leads on business opportunities there? I was thinking of a gas station, convenience store, restaurant, etc. I will also probably get a beauty salon for my wife.
Jeff Yaki
yakijy@aol.com    Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at 09:15:37 (PDT)
Koreatown emerging on Lawrence????? How do you figure? That area has been in decline for the past ten years. The majority of residents along Lawrence in Albany Park are now Hispanics. Koreans do not live there anymore, and Korean stores are being supplanted by Hispanic stores faster than you can say K-Town.
Koreans have now scattered further North in the city and all through out the suburbs.
Chitown Depressant
   Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at 00:23:16 (PDT)
Chicago, is having a huge Asian American Festival soon to celebrate the diversity and size of the Asian American community located here. Los Angeles is a total mess and i'm happy that i live in Chicago. However, it is a great city for Asian Americans. Not all Asian people want to live in lala land some people like living in a place that has a central core like Chicago and New York. Nuff said.
Chicago 4 life
   Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 07:40:46 (PDT)
Chicago is three times better than La-La land. Asian people should come here and find out what a big city is all about.
La sucks
   Wednesday, May 01, 2002 at 14:03:02 (PDT)
Underrated? Overrated! Was born in Los Angeles and lived in Chicago for 2 years. It's like going back in time. Haven't had dark fried rice in 15 years.
mwpoon
   Wednesday, May 01, 2002 at 06:21:59 (PDT)
I used to live in Chicago. It's great for sports, all-night Korean joints, communal events, but it's TOO DAMN COLD!!!
I miss Gino East Pizza
   Friday, April 26, 2002 at 16:46:52 (PDT)

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