Chinese Americans in Texas
Chinese American Citizens Alliance Houston Lodge 曉市頓同源會
Chinese Americans in Texas
Many Chinese who had worked building the transatlantic railroad in California and the west traveled to Texas to work on the railroad infrastructure of Texas. The first group of Asians in Texas was a group of 250 Chinese laborers which arrived in January 1870 who worked for the Houston and Texas Central, whose railhead was then at Calvert.
This was , followed by another group in 1880. Through their effort, Texas' railroad system was built, and after its completion, some Chinese decided to remain in Texas. By 1900 there was about 836 Chinese living in Texas. (34)
However, as a result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the population of Chinese in the United States was impeded. In Texas, the number of Chinese even began to decline. It was not until 1917, when Gen. John K. Pershing having returned back from his campaign against Francisco (Pancho) Villa did Texas get a small boost to its Chinese population. Gen. Pershing had brought back with him 527 Mexican Chinese across the border. Many were refugees from Pancho Villa, but many also had assisted his troops. Through Gen. Pershing's efforts, these Chinese were able to get special dispensation from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and as a result most settled in San Antonio (35). Still the entire Chinese population of Texas by the 1930 census was 703. (36)
The situation changed after World War II with the passage of the Magnuson Act of 1943, which repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. During this time, Texas saw an increase in its Chinese population from 1,031 in the 1940's to 25,461 by 1980. There was also a shift where most of the Chinese resided during this period. Whereas, San Antonio was the major center of Texas Chinese in the 1930's, Houston by the 1950's became the center of Chinese in the state. (37)
Much of this new growth may be attributed to the change in the political atmosphere of mainland China, which by 1949 was taken over by the People's Republic of China. Many of these new immigrants were from the north, and unlike earlier Texas Chinese spoke Mandarin, rather than Cantonese. In addition, unlike those Chinese who were already settled in Texas and who had opened laundries, restaurants, and small groceries to earn a living, many of the post-war immigrants moved into more professional careers such as in the sciences and engineering.
This was , followed by another group in 1880. Through their effort, Texas' railroad system was built, and after its completion, some Chinese decided to remain in Texas. By 1900 there was about 836 Chinese living in Texas. (34)
However, as a result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the population of Chinese in the United States was impeded. In Texas, the number of Chinese even began to decline. It was not until 1917, when Gen. John K. Pershing having returned back from his campaign against Francisco (Pancho) Villa did Texas get a small boost to its Chinese population. Gen. Pershing had brought back with him 527 Mexican Chinese across the border. Many were refugees from Pancho Villa, but many also had assisted his troops. Through Gen. Pershing's efforts, these Chinese were able to get special dispensation from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and as a result most settled in San Antonio (35). Still the entire Chinese population of Texas by the 1930 census was 703. (36)
The situation changed after World War II with the passage of the Magnuson Act of 1943, which repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. During this time, Texas saw an increase in its Chinese population from 1,031 in the 1940's to 25,461 by 1980. There was also a shift where most of the Chinese resided during this period. Whereas, San Antonio was the major center of Texas Chinese in the 1930's, Houston by the 1950's became the center of Chinese in the state. (37)
Much of this new growth may be attributed to the change in the political atmosphere of mainland China, which by 1949 was taken over by the People's Republic of China. Many of these new immigrants were from the north, and unlike earlier Texas Chinese spoke Mandarin, rather than Cantonese. In addition, unlike those Chinese who were already settled in Texas and who had opened laundries, restaurants, and small groceries to earn a living, many of the post-war immigrants moved into more professional careers such as in the sciences and engineering.
Note: The Short History | C.A.C.A. information and subsequent pages are taken from the original Short History of Chinese in America Learning Series website created by former C.A.C.A. Houston Lodge President, Thomas Eng, 2013-2014. Some of the information may no longer be available as originally published.