Chinatowns and Other Asian-American Enclaves: Koreatowns
Koreatowns
Los Angeles
Korean immigrants began arriving in the United States at the turn of the century to work in agriculture. After Japan invaded Korea in 1910, Korean immigration dropped, although many Korean men in the United States arranged for Korean brides to join them.
During the Korean War, immigration to the United States increased. It was not until the Immigration Act of 1965 lifted quotas, however, that Koreans began arriving in large numbers. Today there are about 1 million Americans of Korean ancestry living in the United States.
Los Angeles is home to the largest concentration of Koreans, 274,288 (2010 U.S. Census), outside Korea. Located downtown, Koreatown is the community's hub, boasting a community center and a Korean-American museum. Signs written in Hangul, Korean calligraphy, announce stores and businesses along Olympic Boulevard.
New York City
In New York City, Korean-owned businesses are concentrated along 32nd Street from Broadway to Fifth Avenue, creating a small Koreatown in diverse midtown Manhattan. Other New York neighborhoods, including Flushing and Elmhurst, Queens, have sizable Korean populations.
