How Flushing Became One of the Largest Chinese Neighborhoods Outside of Asia

As part of NY1 celebrating Asian American Heritage this week, the news channel took a look at the incredible growth of the Asian population in Flushing. The neighborhood now boasts more than 3,000 Asian-owned businesses. Back in the 60s many of those businesses were European owned, by second- or third-generation Italian, German, Jews and Irish. The Asian population began to grow in the 70s, with a surge of Taiwanese immigrants. According to the executive director of the Flushing Chinese Business Association, “They did not go to Chinatown in Manhattan. Several reasons from it. Most basic one was, they were of a higher socioeconomic status than the people in Chinatown. It was just not snobism, but they were business people and they were seeking business opportunities.”

Now this neighborhood is one of the largest and fastest-growing Chinese enclaves outside Asia. According to NY1, many immigrants today come to Flushing from Mainland China.

Flushing Becoming One of the Largest Chinese Enclaves Outside of Asia [NY1]

Photo via Wikispaces