Chinese-Americans in Portland, Maine facts for kids
Chinese-Americans have been an important part of Portland, Maine, for many years. They have helped shape the city's history and culture. A small area, sometimes called a "Chinatown," once existed in Portland. It was located around Monument Square. This area was a place where Chinese residents lived and ran businesses.
The first Chinese person arrived in Portland in 1858. The small Chinatown began to form around 1916. It lasted mainly until about 1953. The very last parts of this community disappeared by 1997. This was when the last Chinese laundry closed. At that time, many old buildings in the area were removed as part of a city improvement plan.
Today, Portland has a small Chinese community. It makes up about one percent of the population. While there isn't a specific Chinatown area anymore, you can find several Asian and Chinese stores. Many Asian people, including some Chinese, live in nearby South Portland and Scarborough. Businesses that serve Asian and Chinese customers are found in these towns. For example, Costco in Scarborough was the first one built in Maine. As of 2023, the Asian population in the Portland area is 3.4%. Besides Chinese people, there is also a community of Cambodian-Americans in Portland. Over 1,000 Cambodian-Americans live in Maine.
History of Chinese-Americans in Portland
Portland's Chinatown was modest in size. Many Chinese people faced challenges due to unfair treatment and laws. One such law was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This law made it very difficult for Chinese people to move to the United States. By 1895, enough Chinese people lived in Portland for a community to start. Most of these were men. Their wives were often not allowed to join them because of the new law.
The first Chinese restaurant in Portland opened in 1880. It was located at 1 Custom House Wharf. At that time, only nine Chinese men lived in the city. The community celebrated its first Moon Festival on October 8, 1884. Many Chinese men who lived in Chinatown went to a special Sunday School. This school was opened by the Second Parish Presbyterian Church in 1888. It closed in the late 1890s.
The First Baptist Church opened its own Chinese Sunday School in 1905. This school continued until the mid-1950s. Some students from this Sunday School even traveled to China to work as missionaries. By 1920, there were about thirty Chinese laundries in Portland. These laundries were important businesses for the Chinese community. By the 1950s, the Chinese community in Portland had become much smaller. The Chinatown area almost disappeared. In 1966, Chin Kow, known as "The General," closed Portland's last Chinese laundry. This marked the end of the last remaining part of the old Chinatown.
Community Services
Today, the Chinese community in Portland has places to gather. There is a Chinese Gospel Church in Portland. There is also a community center called the Chinese and American Friendship Association of Maine. This center helps connect Chinese and American people in the state.
