Chinatown in Chicago By: Haley, Ian, and Christian

Where is Chinatown? South Side Just South of the Loop Cermak and Wentworth

Getting to Chinatown Red Line Cermak/Chinatown Stop Walk West

Demographics 1 Median Income Physical Demographics Median Income Under 25 $24,481 Median Income 25-44$48,434 Median Income 45-64$56,494 Median Income Over 65 $30,889 Median Household Income $43,721 Area: square miles Population: 7,391

Demographics 2 Population Characteristics Percent Change Since % Percent Change Since % Median Age36.24 Percentage of foreign born residents: 45.2% Percentage of people that speak English not well or not at all: 54.2%

Ian’s Reflection Exploring Chinatown offers an experience that is often overlooked by people visiting the city of Chicago. Most people think only to visit the Loop, Grant Park, or one of the more popular neighborhoods to visit. Chinatown, I realize, offers a unique perspective on the flow of world culture into Chicago. Seeing traditional Chinese customs and culture become infused with the Chicago lifestyle is fascinating. Nothing captures this idea more than standing in Chinatown and seeing a sunset through a paifang with the Willis Tower in the background. There truly is so much to see in Chinatown, from the beautiful architecture to the quaint shops, that I would say a visit to Chinatown is necessary for a wholesome Chicago experience.

History of Chinatown Founded in 1870 by chinese immigrants looking for stability Increases in the population affect the stability because there wasn’t enough space to fit everyone Increasing in the leasing and house rent made people move to other towns which leads to have a spread Chinese population There are two types of Chinatown (Old Chinatown – Wentworth and Cermark. New Chinatown – Chinatown Square)

Christian’s Reflection I come from a different country, so ever since I got to Loyola, I have seen first hand the culture difference. When I went to Chinatown the thing that impressed me the most was their food; supermarkets are similar to ours but the things is that where we have meat and chicken, they have live animals like lobsters, crabs, fish etc. I come from an island so I’m used to eat a lot of seafood but I had never seen someone take the animal and prepare it in front of my eyes. For them is a common thing to see while for me was a little bit shocking.

Chinatown Landmarks The Nine Dragon Wall – The number 9 and dragons are sacred in Chinese culture – Modeled after a similar wall in BeiHai Park in Beijing – Over 500 red, gold, and blue dragons – Reflects Chinese emphasis on good fortune

Chinatown Landmarks Chinatown Mural – Finished in 1993 – Made of 100k pieces of glass shipped from China to Chicago – Shows history of Chinese immigrants in the US – Reflects important Chinese beliefs and customs

Chinatown Landmarks Chinatown Square – Contains the Nine Dragon Wall – Surrounded by 12 zodiac animal statues – Outdoor shopping center with restuataunts and stores – Plaza is a hub for performances

Haley’s Reflection Things I learned from our trip to Chinatown – The Red Line is not as confusing or scary as I thought it would be, which makes travelling seem much more accessible. – Chicago is really diverse, and there’s something to suit everyone’s interests. – I can “travel the world” while still staying close to home, so there’s no excuse not to go out and learn about other cultures.

Citations Sources – "Chinatown Demographics & Statistics — Employment, Education, Income Averages, Crime In Chinatown — Point2 Homes". Point2homes.com. N.p., Web. 27 Mar – "Chinatown Neighborhood In Chicago, Illinois (IL), Subdivision Profile - Real Estate, Apartments, Condos, Homes, Community, Population, Jobs, Income, Streets". City-data.com. N.p., Web. 27 Mar – “Places to See in Chinatown.” Chicago Chinatown. Web. 28 Mar – “Landmarks & Tourism.” Chicago Chinatown Chamber. 10 July Web. 28 Mar – “Chinatown History.” Chicago Chinatown. Web. 28 Mar Image Credit – – – =lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwil19bbnOTLAhULv4MKHaMMDjUQ_AUIBygC&dpr=0.9# imgrc=4I6fRxlta3UM0M%3A =lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwil19bbnOTLAhULv4MKHaMMDjUQ_AUIBygC&dpr=0.9# imgrc=4I6fRxlta3UM0M%3A