CHINESE AMERICAN POPULATION

Chinese Americans number at 3,497,484, constituting 1.2 percent of the entire U.S. ▶▶population. Furthermore, Chinese Americans account for one in four Asian Americans (24.3%), making them the largest ethnic group among Asian Americans.

The Chinese American population (▶▶single-ethnic Chinese) increased 28.5 percent during the period between 2000 and 2006.

CHINESE AMERICAN SUB-ETHNIC GROUPS

▶▶Foreign-born Chinese Americans hail from different sub-ethnic countries of origin. Three of five (59.5%) come from mainland China; one in six from Taiwan (15.9%); one in 10 from Hong Kong (9.4%); and, one in six are members of the Chinese Diaspora (15.3%), defined as all countries in the world except for mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States.

U.S.-BORN/FOREIGN-BORN, PLACE OF BIRTH, AND GENERATION

29.4 percent are U.S.-born Chinese Americans. Among the U.S.-born Chinese ▶▶Americans, 88.3 percent were born in 15 states. 53.8 percent were born in the states of California and New York.

Seven in 10 (70.6%) Chinese Americans are foreign-born. Nearly all (97%) foreign-born ▶▶Chinese immigrants come from 15 countries. 85 percent originated from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

The Chinese American community is almost evenly divided between the less ▶▶acculturated first generation (54.2%) on one hand, and the more linguistically and socially acculturated 1.5 generation and the “second generation and beyond” combined (45.8%).

CHINESE AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL PATTERNS

More than half of all Chinese Americans reside in the two states of California and New ▶▶York (53.8%). 55 percent of all Chinese Americans live in the five regional metropolitan urban areas.

In the past 20 years, Chinese Americans have settled increasingly away from traditional ▶▶ethnic enclaves characterized as Chinatowns. Many of the more affluent Chinese Americans now reside in suburban communities commonly known as ethnoburbs or mixed Asiatowns.

KEY WORDS

1.5 generation refers to those who are born abroad and came to the United States by 15 years old or younger.

Acculturation is a process in which members of one group adapt to the beliefs and behavior of another group.

Asiatown is an Asian American suburban community where one Asian American ethnic group is the largest among other Asian American ethnic groups who are also present in significant numbers.

Chinese AmericanSub-Ethnicity consist largely of four sub-ethnic groups differentiated by their birthplace.

Ethnic Enclave is an ethnic neighborhood which retains some cultural distinction from a larger surrounding area.

Ethnoburb is an ethnic enclaves located in the suburbs.

First generation is defined as those who are born abroad and came at the age of 16 or older.

Foreign-born as those who are born outside of the United States.

“Second generation and beyond” refers to anyone who can be of any generation beyond the first and 1.5 generation.